RESEARCH PAPER
Health behaviors and professional health orientation as correlates of community participation intention among health sciences students in Istanbul: a cross-sectional study
1
Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Master’s Program, Graduate School, Bahçeşehir University, Istanbul, Türkiye
2
Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Bahçeşehir University, Istanbul, Türkiye
Submission date: 2026-08-15
Final revision date: 2026-09-16
Acceptance date: 2026-09-22
Online publication date: 2026-09-24
Corresponding author
Lütfü Kaan Kantarcı
Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Master’s Program, Graduate School, Bahçeşehir University, Ihlamur Yıldız Caddesi No: 8, Gayrettepe, 34353 Beşiktaş, Istanbul, Türkiye
Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Master’s Program, Graduate School, Bahçeşehir University, Ihlamur Yıldız Caddesi No: 8, Gayrettepe, 34353 Beşiktaş, Istanbul, Türkiye
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Background:
Health sciences education links students’ personal health practices with emerging professional and social-accountability roles. We examined whether provisional health-behavior, coping, and professional-orientation constructs were associated with community participation intention.
Material and methods:
This cross-sectional online survey included 245 health sciences students aged 18-24 years. Academic staff distributed the survey link through student WhatsApp groups at four foundation universities in Istanbul, Türkiye. A researcher-developed 27-item questionnaire underwent exploratory factor analysis. Primary HC3 robust linear regression was supplemented by oblique-rotation, bootstrap, and influence analyses.
Results:
Four provisional dimensions were identified (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin=0.918; Bartlett χ²(351)=3780.46; p<0.001). Mean participation intention was 4.38±0.58; 60.4% scored ≥4.5. Health perceptions and behaviors (β=0.336; 95% CI: 0.147-0.526) and professional health orientation (β=0.305; 95% CI: 0.128-0.482) were independently associated with intention (both p<0.001); psychosocial coping was not. Principal estimates remained stable in bootstrap and influence sensitivity analyses.
Conclusions:
Personal health practices and professional health orientation were correlates of highly endorsed community participation intention. Because the same convenience sample was used to develop and test provisional composites, replication with validated measures and prospective assessment of actual participation is required.
Health sciences education links students’ personal health practices with emerging professional and social-accountability roles. We examined whether provisional health-behavior, coping, and professional-orientation constructs were associated with community participation intention.
Material and methods:
This cross-sectional online survey included 245 health sciences students aged 18-24 years. Academic staff distributed the survey link through student WhatsApp groups at four foundation universities in Istanbul, Türkiye. A researcher-developed 27-item questionnaire underwent exploratory factor analysis. Primary HC3 robust linear regression was supplemented by oblique-rotation, bootstrap, and influence analyses.
Results:
Four provisional dimensions were identified (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin=0.918; Bartlett χ²(351)=3780.46; p<0.001). Mean participation intention was 4.38±0.58; 60.4% scored ≥4.5. Health perceptions and behaviors (β=0.336; 95% CI: 0.147-0.526) and professional health orientation (β=0.305; 95% CI: 0.128-0.482) were independently associated with intention (both p<0.001); psychosocial coping was not. Principal estimates remained stable in bootstrap and influence sensitivity analyses.
Conclusions:
Personal health practices and professional health orientation were correlates of highly endorsed community participation intention. Because the same convenience sample was used to develop and test provisional composites, replication with validated measures and prospective assessment of actual participation is required.
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