Perceived Severity and Susceptibility of Type II Diabetes Among Youth | ||
| Kerbala Journal of Medicine | ||
| Article 1, Volume 9, Issue 2, December 2016, Pages 2498-2504 PDF (0 K) | ||
| Author | ||
| Mohammed Abdulridha Merzah | ||
| Abstract | ||
| background: In 2012, the prevalence rate of Type II diabetes among American population was 29.1 million, or 9.3% of population. As many as 1 in 3 American adults will have diabetes (Type I or Type II) in 2050 if present trends continue. Higher perceived severity and susceptibility of its risky factors may cause a higher level of attitudes toward practicing healthy behaviors among these subjects. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the constructs’ status, knowledge about Type II diabetes, and their related factors among college students. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 223 undergraduate students who enrolled in Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC) in a non- random convenience way. A questionnaire was used for data collection which measured the perceived severity and susceptibility and knowledge regarding Type II diabetes. Subjects’ demographic variables such as age, sex, race/ethnicity, family history of diabetes, exercise level, and BMI were also recorded. Results: 1.85 and 2.10 out of 4 were revealed as grand means of perceived susceptibility and perceived severity, respectively. Participants’ chances of suffering from Type II Diabetes in the next few years as great was perceived at the highest level of susceptibility and concerning about the likelihood of having Type II diabetes in the future was at the lowest level. Whole life would be change due to having Type II diabetes was at the highest level of perceived severity while dyeing within 10 years due to having Type II diabetes was at the lowest level. Family history was the best predictor of perceived susceptibility to Type II diabetes. Conclusion: Despite the fact that belief in the seriousness of the disease among subjects was at favorable level, their perceived susceptibility was low. Increasing perceived susceptibility and severity may induce an increase in practicing healthy behaviors among college students. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Diabetes type II; Perceived severity; perceived susceptibility | ||
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