This study was designed to investigate the content of health behavior and to examine factors determining health behavior of nursing students(n=159) in relation to sociodemographic and cognitive variables. Cognitive variables were categorized into saliency of health, susceptibility to illness, and health locus of control. Data analysis prodecure included factor analysis and stepwise multivariate regressions using health behavior as dependent variables. Analysis showed; 1. As a whole, nursing students showed a tendency of lack in positive health behavior, especially in diet-related health behavior. 2. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the factors such as grade, saliency of health, and birth place were to be independently and significantly associated with health behavior: Upper grade students, high level of saliency, urban-born students tend to take health behavior positively. 3. The most influential factor among them was grade, but cognitive inspite of stereotype, poorly impact on health behavior with the exception health. We can guess the effect of education indirectively from these findindgs, but longitudinal studies need to consider the direct effect of education. The results also indicate that the respondents should be encouraged to take health behavior positively. The studies including more other cognitive variables would be conducted for the nursing students in relation to health behavior.