Perceived risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus: predictors of perceived susceptibility among young adults in Jordan

Objectives The growing burden of type 2 diabetes mellitus among young adults is a global public health problem. This study aimed to explore risk perception of type 2 diabetes mellitus among university students in Jordan and to identify predictors of perceived susceptibility. Methods A cross-sectional study that used proportional stratified sampling to recruit 496 third year university students in all fields of study at the University of Jordan. Participants answered online self-administered validated Arabic questionnaire that was designed based on the constructs of the health belief model. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Results The participants in this study evidently underestimated their risk of developing T2DM. Only 25% of students believed that they have high potential of developing T2DM in the future. Perceived susceptibility was low to moderate; it scored lowest among all dimensions of risk perception (mean = 2.86 out of 5). Results of t -test and ANOVA showed that perceived susceptibility was higher among students in engineering and science ( p = 0.001), males ( p = 0.019), with higher income ( p = 0.008), overweight ( p = 0.026), and students with little knowledge of T2DM ( p = 0.027). Results of logistic regression indicated that high income level was the only significant predictor of higher perceived susceptibility (OR = 2.7. 95%CI 1.35, 3.4). Likelihood of taking preventive action was high (mean = 4.15 out of 5). Conclusion Results of this study highlight the need for health system governance to commit to integrate national efforts to design culturally sensitive interventions to raise awareness about the risk of T2DM in Jordan, especially among young adult population.