Relationships between wellness role modeling and professional training in health education

The relationship between wellness role modeling and health education was examined in a university setting. Comparisons were made between the following groups: 1) new health science majors and advanced majors; 2) new health science majors and new majors in other fields; 3) advanced health science majors and advanced majors in other fields; and 4) health science education faculty and the previously tested groups. Each group responded to a valid and reliable wellness instrument (University of Wisconsin/La Crosse Wellness Inventory). Differences between groups were determined using means, analysis of variance and Scheffe's post-hoc test. Results indicated that no statistically significant difference existed among student groups indicating that just traditional academic exposure to health science/education does not produce positive role models. The faculty were significant potential role models but apparently failed to communicate this positive wellness philosophy to students.