Wellness Assessment Report,
1998
Graduates are expected to leave the
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with an understanding of the concept of
wellness and the ability to apply it to their personal lifestyle. A more extensive statement can be found in
the Curriculum Task Force Report.
The Assessment Subcommittee
discussed how best to assess wellness.
The discussion focused on the importance of assessing the acquisition of
knowledge (cognitive) versus the application of knowledge (behavioral). It was noted that it would be difficult to
measure wellness knowledge because courses that satisfy the wellness General
Degree Requirement cover a variety of topics and do not include a common set of
information. A health content knowledge
test was developed. Questions were
organized around the major health concerns identified in the Curriculum Task
Force's wellness statement. After
reviewing the test, the subcommittee concluded that students could not be
expected to generally do well on the test.
Test performance would depend on the particular wellness course (s)
taken. Given the apparent problems with
measuring the cognitive aspects of wellness, the subcommittee decided to focus
on the behavioral component.
The Subcommittee reviewed the Lifestyle Assessment
Questionnaire (LAQ) developed and distributed by the National Wellness
Institute as a possible assessment tool.
One of the advantages of using the LAQ is the availability of data for
comparison purposes. It also has
sub-scales that measure the six dimensions of wellness. One of the disadvantages of the LAQ is that
it does not assess the cognitive component of wellness. The subcommittee decided to use the LAQ with
the understanding that it would only be assessing the behavioral component of
wellness. The cognitive component may
be assessed at some future time.
Sixty-six seniors completed the LAQ in Sociology
270, Communication 369, Psychology 452, Paper Science 495 and Theatre 452
during the 1998 spring semester. The
LAQ was also mailed to seniors and recent graduates in health
promotion/wellness. Eleven
questionnaires were returned.
·
43
are females; males, 34
·
73
are white
·
58
are single
·
55
first enrolled at UWSP as new freshmen
·
43
have completed 90-120 credits; 34 have completed over 120 credits
·
11
have taken dance classes to satisfy the aerobics/activity component of the
wellness GDR; 4 have taken physical education 231; and 41 have taken wellness
(A/A) classes
·
9
have taken food and nutrition 151 to satisfy the health enhancement component of
the wellness GDR; 3 have taken health education classes; 18 have taken health
promotion/wellness classes; 5 have taken human development 367; 6 have taken
psychology classes; and 8 have taken wellness (HE) classes
·
10
are communication majors: physical education, 12: paper science, 12:
psychology, 15. The remainder is
distributed among 16 different majors.
·
69%
reported being very satisfied or satisfied with their aerobics/activity course
(s).
·
56%
reported being very satisfied or satisfied with their health enhancement course
(s).
·
90%
rated the LAQ at least adequate as a measure of a person's wellness
RESULTS
The following table displays LAQ
scores for 1998 seniors and comparison groups by LAQ sub-scales (responses to
individual questions are attached).
Scores for each sub-scale are an average percentage for the group. Each question is scored from 1 (almost
never) to 5 (almost always). The
maximum score possible is determined by multiplying the total number of
questions by 5. The wellness score is
determined by dividing the individual score by the maximum possible score and
multiplying by 100. Scores can range
from 0 to 100 with higher scores representing higher levels of wellness. Because the sample is small and there is a
need to preserve as many cases as possible for analysis, missing responses for
a question have been replaced with the mean score for that question.
|
|
Mosier Study*(1) |
Mosier Study*(2) |
Mosier Study*(3) |
Assessment |
|||
|
|
1986 Fresh-men |
1990 Seniors |
1990 Fresh-men |
1994 Seniors |
1990 Fresh-men |
1994 Seniors |
1998 Seniors |
|
Physical Exercise |
51 |
65+ |
42 |
62+ |
47 |
57 |
64 |
|
Nutrition |
53 |
67+ |
53 |
71+ |
55 |
69 |
70 |
|
Self-Care |
56 |
66+ |
60 |
70+ |
63 |
70 |
74 |
|
Vehicle Safety |
75 |
85+ |
80 |
82 |
76 |
80 |
79 |
|
Drug Usage and Awareness |
90 |
93 |
92 |
93 |
88 |
90 |
87 |
|
Social/Environmental |
69 |
73 |
67 |
83+ |
70 |
79 |
80 |
|
Emotional Awareness and Acceptance |
79 |
81 |
82 |
87 |
84 |
85 |
87 |
|
Emotional Management |
76 |
77 |
75 |
82+ |
76 |
78 |
82 |
|
Intellectual |
57 |
68 |
58 |
69+ |
60 |
69 |
76 |
|
Occupational |
65 |
81+ |
72 |
83+ |
72 |
81 |
84 |
|
Spiritual |
64 |
73 |
66 |
79 |
65 |
76 |
78 |
|
Composite |
69 |
75 |
70 |
80+ |
72 |
77 |
80 |
*Robert
Mosier, A Report of the Student Growth and Development Process Over 4 Years of
the 1986 Freshman Class (1986-1990) and the 1990 Freshman Class
(1990-1994).
+Statistically
significant difference (p < .05)
(1). Includes 15 freshmen initially tested in
1986 and re-tested as seniors in 1990.
(2). Includes 14 freshmen initially tested in
1990 and re-tested as seniors in 1994.
(3). Includes 390 freshmen initially tested in
1990 and 47 seniors tested in 1994.
With one exception, 1998 seniors
scored higher on each sub-scale and overall than the 390 freshmen tested in
1990. The differences in scores range
from +3 for vehicle safety and emotional awareness and acceptance to +17 for
physical exercise. Their composite
score is 8 points higher. The 1998 seniors
scored 1 point lower on drug usage and awareness. It should be noted that these are cross sectional data and two
different groups of students are being compared. However, the results are consistent with Mosier's finding that
UWSP students generally score higher on the LAQ as seniors than as freshmen.
PHYSICAL
EXERCISE
|
|
Almost never |
Occasionally |
Often |
Very often |
Almost always |
N |
|
1. I exercise vigorously for at least 20 minutes three or more times per week |
25.0 |
18.4 |
22.4 |
10.5 |
23.7 |
76 |
|
2. I determine my activity level by monitoring my heart rate. |
62.3 |
14.3 |
5.2 |
10.4 |
7.8 |
77 |
|
3. I stop exercising before I feel exhausted. |
14.3 |
20.8 |
32.5 |
15.6 |
16.9 |
77 |
|
4. I exercise in a relaxed, calm, and joyful manner. |
17.3 |
17.3 |
17.3 |
24.0 |
24.0 |
75 |
|
5. I stretch before exercising. |
15.8 |
15.8 |
15.8 |
22.4 |
30.3 |
76 |
|
6. I stretch after exercising. |
21.1 |
9.2 |
17.1 |
30.3 |
22.4 |
76 |
|
7. I walk or bike whenever possible. |
9.2 |
11.8 |
28.9 |
26.3 |
23.7 |
76 |
|
8. I participate in a strenuous activity. |
14.7 |
21.3 |
14.7 |
18.7 |
30.7 |
75 |
|
9. If I am not in shape, I avoid sporadic strenuous exercise. |
25.7 |
14.9 |
17.6 |
24.3 |
17.6 |
74 |
|
10. After vigorous exercise, I "cool down" for at least five minutes. |
9.2 |
15.8 |
17.1 |
30.3 |
27.6 |
76 |
NUTRITION
|
|
Almost never |
Occasionally |
Often |
Very often |
Almost always |
N |
|
11. When choosing non-vegetable protein, I select lean cuts of meat and low-fat dairy products. |
5.3 |
11.8 |
13.2 |
18.4 |
51.3 |
76 |
|
12. I maintain an appropriate weight. |
8.0 |
9.3 |
12.0 |
25.3 |
45.3 |
75 |
|
13. I minimize salt intake. |
6.6 |
21.1 |
23.7 |
23.7 |
25.0 |
76 |
|
14. I eat fruits and vegetables. |
2.6 |
9.2 |
21.1 |
39.5 |
27.6 |
76 |
|
15. I eat breakfast. |
9.2 |
10.5 |
15.8 |
21.1 |
43.4 |
76 |
|
16. I intentionally include fiber in my diet on a daily basis. |
18.4 |
18.4 |
25.0 |
22.4 |
15.8 |
76 |
|
17. I drink enough fluid to keep my urine light yellow. |
2.6 |
7.9 |
15.8 |
38.2 |
35.5 |
76 |
|
18. I plan my diet to insure an adequate amount of vitamins and minerals. |
14.5 |
17.1 |
30.3 |
25.0 |
13.2 |
76 |
|
19. I minimize foods in my diet that contain large amounts of refined flour. |
17.1 |
23.7 |
30.3 |
18.4 |
10.5 |
76 |
|
20. I minimize my intake of fats and oils. |
11.8 |
19.7 |
22.4 |
23.7 |
22.4 |
76 |
|
21. I include items from all four basic food groups in my diet each day. |
2.6 |
7.9 |
25.0 |
35.5 |
28.9 |
76 |
|
22. I choose water as one of the beverages I drink. |
5.3 |
13.2 |
25.0 |
17.1 |
39.5 |
76 |
|
23. I avoid adding sugar to my foods. |
10.5 |
18.4 |
22.4 |
26.3 |
22.4 |
76 |
SELF-CARE
|
|
Almost never |
Occasionally |
Often |
Very often |
Almost always |
N |
|
24. I use footgear of good quality. |
0.0 |
1.3 |
10.4 |
36.4 |
51.9 |
77 |
|
25. I maintain up-to-date immunization records. |
16.9 |
9.1 |
23.4 |
18.2 |
32.5 |
77 |
|
26. I examine my breasts or testes on a monthly basis. |
28.9 |
10.5 |
25.0 |
17.1 |