Abstract
Access to health- and wellness-related resources is unprecedented, and the desire to attain and use that information is high. However, the information is not always accurate, and individuals may be selectively choosing the information they read and follow. Additionally, although Americans have access to more health and wellness information than ever before, rates of obesity, hypertension, and sedentary lifestyles are still high. This study investigated information seeking for health and wellness-related resources by healthy, educated, young adults and their health and wellness perceptions and behaviors. Five focus groups were conducted with 35 young adults to gather information about diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management. The information-seeking skills and skepticism of information were high for this sample. They were more informed and practiced healthier behaviors related to nutrition and exercise than expected. However, they were less knowledgeable about good sleep hygiene and had varying sleep behaviors. The stress management techniques employed were a balance of healthy and unhealthy behaviors. This study’s findings imply that it would be useful for family and consumer sciences educators and Extension professionals to add educational programming about good sleep hygiene and stress management techniques in addition to nutritional and healthy activity education.
Recommended Citation
Lee, H.,
&
Worthy, S.
(2021). A Qualitative Analysis of Young Adults’ Health and Wellness Perceptions, Behaviors, and Information Seeking.
Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, 9(2), 1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54718/IVWS7709
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