Self-Concept in the Context of Diabetes Prevention: Development of the Lifestyle Health-Related Self-Concept Questionnaire.

Purpose: Understanding psychosocial factors in the context of lifestyle change is important to recognize distinctions in type 2 diabetes prevention behaviors. A relatively stable psychosocial feature, such as health-related self-concept (HRSC), may indicate factors that promote or repress positive health behaviors. The present study created a questionnaire specific to lifestyle change activities by modifying the Generalized Health-Related Self-Concept Questionnaire (G-HRSC).

Design: A modified lifestyle health-related self-concept (Lifestyle-HRSC) questionnaire was developed through creation of new items, context expert review of new items, and small and large sample test of new items.

Participants: 101 college students completed the Lifestyle-HRSC.

Analysis: Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (0.64) and Bartlett sphericity tests (χ = 6350.7 [ df = 3081], P < .01) indicated the sample met criteria for factor analysis. Principle component factor analysis was performed using varimax rotation with Kaiser normalization.

Results: Six factors were revealed: nutrition, social support, avoiding diabetes, physical activity, problem solving, and challenges related to being healthy. Item analysis was conducted to remove correlated and conceptually redundant items and to create the 31-item final questionnaire.

Conclusion: The Lifestyle-HRSC provides additional knowledge regarding the relationship between self-concept and health as well as insights into the role of psychosocial factors in the context of diabetes prevention.