The study was conducted to explore health promoting lifestyle behaviors (HPLB) of college women (aged 18 to 24) in Japan. In addition, perceived health concerns, health status, and health related behaviors were evaluated. The conceptual model used was the health promoting lifestyle behaviors (Tashiro, 1995). The methods used were focus groups and a mailed survey. A large university in Japan was the study site. Thirty-eight (38) female college students who lived alone or with female roommates participated in focus groups. Focus groups provided the content for subsequent development of a survey questionnaire administered to a random sample of Japanese college women. Five hundred forty-six (546) college women responded to the survey (response rate 54%). Analysis of data included frequency, crosstabulation and chi-square or One-Way ANOVA, item analysis, bivariate correlation, and multiple regression.

Forty percent (40%) of college women perceived themselves as "rather unhealthy" or "unhealthy". The perceived health status of college women was lower than the general population of Japanese women (aged 15 to 24). The findings of multiple regression indicated that the health promoting lifestyle behaviors (HPLB) was predicted by perceived health status, perceived motives or cues, health concerns, and years in college. Perceived health status was predicted by the HPLB, health concerns, and the number of information sources. Perceived motives or cues for the HPLB were positively and significantly associated with information sources. Overall, the majority of Japanese college women did not smoke and drank alcoholic beverages only on special occasions. Forty-three percent (43%) of the women reported that their knowledge of contraceptive methods was "rather not enough" or "not enough". The findings suggest that: (1) the number of perceived motives or cues and the number of perceived health concerns must be considered to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors, (2) health information is important to promote perceived motives or cues, (3) perceived health promoting lifestyle behaviors, health status, and health concerns were mutually associated, thus, to increase perceived health status and/or decrease perceived health concerns, promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors must be considered, and (4) Japanese college women need to improve their knowledge level about contraception and risk-reduction.