Associations between health promotion behaviors and multidimensional health among Chinese middle-school students—a study focusing on gender differences

Adolescence is a crucial period for establishing lifelong healthy behaviors, and unhealthy habits developed during adolescence can increase the risk of chronic diseases in adulthood. However, few is on the relationships between health promotion behaviors and multidimensional health in Chinese middle-school students, focusing on identifying gender-specific differences. This study employed a non-experimental, correlational design using online surveys to collect data from 179 middle-school students and 103 teachers. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS v20, including ordinal logistic regression analysis, Chi-square tests and t-tests. The results indicate that approximately 43.7% of middle-school teachers perceive that rural students as having effective health promotion behaviors. Female students demonstrated higher levels of health promotion behaviors than males, with significant gender differences observed in health responsibility behavior (p = 0.011) and interpersonal relationships (p = 0.025). However, no gender differences were found in the multidimensional health of rural middle-school students. Both male and female students showed concerning levels of physical health, with only 38.2% of males and 37.78% of females rated as good or excellent. Notably, life appreciation behavior was identified as the only significant predictor of multidimensional health among these students, indicating that higher scores in this domain correlate with better health. Health educators and policymakers are advised to account for gender differences in the development and delivery of health promotion initiatives aimed at adolescents, with a particular emphasis on fostering life appreciation. Interventions focused on these aspects may offer substantial potential in diminishing health risks in adulthood and enhancing overall lifelong well-being.