Factors Related to Longitudinal Patterns of Multiple Health Behaviors in Chinese Freshmen

Shuman Tao,Fangbiao Tao,Yukun Zhang,Xiaoyan Wu

doi:10.1177/2158244019893694

Abstract

Students with multiple health risk behaviors (HRB) have increased amount of research attention. The study aimed to examine the multiple health behaviors and whether these behaviors differ by demographic characteristics and social factors in a 1-year follow-up study among 1,989 students. All the measures were from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. Associations between demographic characteristics/social factors and multiple HRB were examined by logistic regression models. Binary logistic models indicated that females had generally higher odds of physical inactivity but lower odds of cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, suicide attempt, and breakfast skipping. Students more than 18 years had higher odds of cigarette smoking. Physical inactivity was negatively correlated with playing school sports teams and taking extracurricular activities. Students with screen time >2 hr/d were more likely to be with physical inactivity or alcohol drinking. Logistic regression models showed that males showed higher odds of two, three, and four to six HRB at 3T. Not taking part in school sports teams/extracurricular activities and screen time >2 hr/d at baseline were risk factors of multiple HRB. Our results reveal a close association between youth risk behaviors and demographic characteristics/social factors. Health promotion interventions of co-occurred behavior should be conducted at schools.

Highlights

College is a critical transition period for establishing health behaviors, and it has long been considered a period of increased risk behaviors
Individuals who were overweight or obese reported more alcohol drinking at baseline and 2T and less physical inactivity at 2T
Students without siblings reported more alcohol drinking, Suicide attempt (SA), and unhealthy weight control behaviors at baseline, more cigarette smoking at 2T, and more alcohol drinking at follow-up

Summary

Introduction

College is a critical transition period for establishing health behaviors, and it has long been considered a period of increased risk behaviors. A Chinese study showed that the prevalence of physical inactivity, poor dietary behavior, frequent alcohol use, and current smoking was 62.0%, 29.8%, 11.6%, and 9.3%, respectively, in 2,422 college students (1,433 males) aged 19.7 ± 1.2 years (Ye et al, 2016). It has been estimated that a substantial proportion participate in multiple HRB, with physical inactivity, smoking, and excessive alcohol drinking. Researchers suggested that those engaging in one type of risk behavior often engage in other risks, these risk behaviors sometimes clustering together (Busch et al, 2013; Park et al, 2010; Zhang & Ji, 2015)

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