Abstract
BackgroundAdolescent health risk behaviors are a public health priority given their prevalence and their associations with chronic diseases and life quality in adulthood. This study examined the heterogeneity of adolescent health risk behaviors and the associations between demographic characteristics and subgroup membership in rural western China.MethodsIn fall 2015, 2805 students from rural middle schools in Sichuan Province were surveyed using the Health-Related Behavior Questionnaire for Adolescents. Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to identify subgroups of adolescents with distinct patterns of health risk behaviors. Differences in class membership related to selected demographic characteristics were examined using multinomial logistic regression analysis.ResultsA four-class model emerged: (1) high-risk group (n = 108, 4.0%), (2) high-physical-inactivity and suicide-risk group (n = 340, 12.1%), (3) moderate-risk group (n = 897, 32.0%), and (4) low-risk group (n = 1460, 52.1%). The multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed that boys and adolescents with poor parental relationships and high allowances (spending money) were significantly more likely to be in the high-risk group than the low-risk group.ConclusionsAdolescents in rural western China are a heterogeneous population requiring different tailored and effective interventions.
Highlights
Adolescent health risk behaviors are an important public health concern worldwide
This study aimed to investigate the heterogeneity and clustering of health risk behaviors among adolescents in rural western China and the associations between demographic characteristics and health risk behavior subgroups
These study results have demonstrated that Latent class analysis (LCA) is an effective and valid approach that can be used to categorize individuals with similar characteristics
Summary
Adolescent health risk behaviors are an important public health concern worldwide. Health risk behaviors are a serious threat to adolescents’ health and have lasting impacts on life quality in adulthood [1,2,3,4,5]. Compared with the economically developed eastern and central regions in China, fewer concerns have been expressed about health risk behaviors in adolescents in western rural areas [6]. Over the past three decades, China’s rapid economic development and unprecedented urbanization have encouraged many rural western parents to migrate to urban centers to pursue employment opportunities [7]. Their children may be left behind in the care of other family members, and some of these children may even care for themselves [8]. Adolescent health risk behaviors are a public health priority given their prevalence and their associations with chronic diseases and life quality in adulthood.
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