Clustering of health and risk behaviour in immigrant and indigenous Dutch residents aged 19–40 years

Sijmen A Reijneveld,Mariska Klein Velderman,Theo W G M Paulussen,Maroesjka Van Nieuwenhuijzen,Marianne Junger

doi:10.1007/s00038-012-0350-4

Abstract

ObjectivesStudies on the co-occurrence, ‘clustering’ of health and other risk behaviours among immigrants from non-industrialised countries lack until now. The aim of this study was to compare this clustering in immigrant and indigenous adults.MethodsA representative sample (N = 2,982; response 71%) of the Dutch population aged 19–40, with 247 respondents from non-industrialized countries (Turkey, Morocco, Surinam, Netherlands Antilles), was asked about health behaviours (alcohol, smoking, drugs, unsafe sex, exercise, nutrition, sleep behaviour, traffic behaviour), and about rule-breaking behaviour and aggression. Data were collected using internet questionnaires, which excluded respondents unable to read Dutch.ResultsAmong indigenous adults, health and risk behaviours co-occur in three clusters (alcohol, health-enhancing behaviour, and rule-breaking behaviour), whereas among immigrant groups two clusters were found (alcohol and rule-breaking behaviour/smoking). Differences mostly concerned health-enhancing behaviours such as nutrition, which was not part of any cluster, and physical activity.ConclusionsThis supports an integrated promotion of healthier lifestyles to immigrants who are able to read Dutch. Regarding potentially risky behaviours like alcohol use and rule-breaking behaviours, this could be similar to that for indigenous people.

Highlights

Health and risk behaviours, such as smoking, poor diet, physical inactivity, excessive alcohol consumption, motor vehicle crashes, risky sexual behaviour, delinquency and illicit drug use, have a major impact on health and mortality (Emberson et al 2005; Knoops et al 2004; Meng et al 1999; Mokdad et al 2004; Yusuf et al 2004)
Among indigenous adults, health and risk behaviours co-occur in three clusters, whereas among immigrant groups two clusters were found
For labour immigrants we found a reasonably fitting model comprising two clusters: (1) alcohol/unsafe sex/vigorous physical activity/no sleep and (2) rule-breaking behaviour/smoking (v2 = 44.23, df = 24 p = 0.01, Comparative Fit Index (CFI) = 0.92, Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI) = 0.94, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) = 0.09), see Fig. 1b

Summary

Introduction

Health and risk behaviours, such as smoking, poor diet, physical inactivity, excessive alcohol consumption, motor vehicle crashes, risky sexual behaviour, delinquency and illicit drug use, have a major impact on health and mortality (Emberson et al 2005; Knoops et al 2004; Meng et al 1999; Mokdad et al 2004; Yusuf et al 2004). The greater the involvement in more risky behaviours, the higher the negative effect on health (Meng et al 1999; Spencer et al 2005; Yusuf et al 2004), both in regard to health behaviours, and to aggression and delinquency (Piquero et al 2007; Shepherd et al 2009) These negative effects may cumulate if risky behaviours co-occur in people (Burke et al 1997; Faeh et al 2006; Ma et al 2000; Poortinga 2007; Pronk et al 2004; Schuit et al 2002; Wiefferink et al 2006). As yet there is no evidence on differences in this clustering between immigrant groups and the indigenous population

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion