The Association between Social Support and Health Behaviors for Metabolic Syndrome Prevention among University Students: The Mediating Effect of Perceived Stress

Executive Leader, Expert Group on Health Promotion for the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Seoul, Transdisciplinary Major in Learning Health Systems, Department of Healthcare Sciences, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul, Korea Purpose: Health behaviors for metabolic syndrome (MetS) prevention should be emphasized from early adulthood. There is little information on psychosocial factors associated with health behaviors for MetS prevention. The aim of this study was to determine whether there would be a mediating effect of perceived stress on the association between social support and health behaviors for MetS prevention among university students. Methods: This cross-sectional and correlation study was conducted with 502 university students in South Korea. Social support, perceived stress, and lifestyle evaluation for metabolic syndrome scales were used. Online questionnaire survey was conducted between November and December 2019. The mediating effect of social support on health behaviors for MetS prevention was analyzed using PROCESS macro program with bootstrapping method to test our hypotheses. Results: Social support directly influenced perceived stress (β=-.35, p<.001) and health behaviors for MetS prevention (β=.14, p=.002). Health behaviors for MetS prevention was indirectly influenced by perceived stress (β=-.25, p<.001). The size of indirect effect of social support on health behaviors for MetS prevention was 0.06. Conclusions: The association of social support and health behaviors for MetS prevention was partially mediated by perceived stress among university students. Therefore, a university-based nursing intervention should comprise social support strategies with stress management to promote health behaviors for MetS prevention.