Abstract

When considering health promotion among college students, 2 questions that arise are how to (1) most effectively offer health initiatives and (2) motivate students to participate in these efforts.

OBJECTIVE:

In responding to these questions, the author considered 2 health-promotion tools: the transtheoretical model and the concept of possible selves.

PARTICIPANTS:

There were 304 college students who participated in this study.

METHODS:

To explore how such information can assist health-promotion planning by determining which behaviors to target and how to match interventions to the overall population's stage of change, the author had students report their stage of change for 6 health behaviors. In addition, to explore possible motivations for moving from the precontemplation to the preparation stage of change, the author had students generate future self-concepts regarding their health (health-related possible selves).

RESULTS:

The number of illness-related possible selves cited was significantly related to stage of change for smoking and stress management. For smoking, precontemplators had the fewest number of illness-related possible selves; however, the author observed the opposite for stress management.

CONCLUSION:

The findings have implications for how the transtheoretical model and the concept of possible selves can serve as useful tools in promoting college health.