The effects of university students’ fear levels of breast cancer on healthy lifestyle behaviours

Abstract

This study was conducted as a descriptive and correlational study to find out the effects of university students’ fear levels of breast cancer on their healthy lifestyle behaviours. The study was conducted between 05.06.2021 and 20.06.2021 with the participation of 386 students who were studying in a university and who agreed to participate in the study. The data were collected by using an information form prepared in line with the literature by the researcher which included 26 questions to find out the sociodemographic characteristics and thoughts of students towards breast cancer and the Champion Breast Cancer Fear Scale and Healthy Lifestyle Behaviours Scale II. Normality distribution of the data was evaluated with Shapiro–Wilk and Kolmogorov–Smirnov tests. Kruskal–Wallis test, Mann–Whitney U test, one-way analysis of variance and independent samples t-test were used in data analysis. It was found that 98.2% of the students in the study were single, 73.3% had a nuclear family, 35.5% had a democratic family structure, 85.2% had social security, 86.8% did not have any health problems, 52.1% referred to doctor when they had health problems, 70.7% had knowledge about breast cancer, 76.4% were afraid of breast cancer and the mean age of the students was 20.7 ± 2.3. Champion Breast Cancer Fear Scale median score of the students was 25 (8–40) and Healthy Lifestyle Behaviours Scale II mean score was found as 141.5 ± 24.2. When the Breast Cancer Fear Scale scores were evaluated in this study, it was found that university students had high levels of breast cancer fear. No statistically significant association was found between Breast Cancer Fear Scale and Healthy Lifestyle Behaviours Scale II. In line with the results found, it is recommended to increase students’ knowledge and awareness in order to decrease their cancer fear levels.

Keywords: Behaviour, breast cancer, fear, health student, life