Health beliefs and behaviors in rural high school juniors

This descriptive study investigated the health beliefs and behaviors of 709 high school juniors in two rural counties of Pennsylvania. The Adolescent Wellness Appraisal (AWA) was utilized to survey this population in an attempt to understand rural adolescent health so that appropriate interventions could be implemented. Results demonstrated the presence of the usual adolescent problems, such as violence, substance usage, and poor nutritional and exercise habits. It also established the presence of a striking number of stressful events, such as parental loss and relocation, experienced in just a one year period of time. The results of this survey are discussed in relation to those from earlier surveys conducted by the AWA, tool creators at the University of Michigan. Overall implications suggest the need for greater availability of health promotion in rural areas, as well as suggestions for future research specific to needs of rural adolescents.