Abstract
BackgroundUnhealthy behaviors are associated with mental health problems and violence in adolescents, yet their combined association has been understudied. Using the Global School Health Survey, this study examined the association between combined unhealthy behaviors (including fast food, soft drink, smoking, other tobacco products and physical inactivity) and anxiety, suicidal ideation and involvement in physical fight among Pakistani adolescents.MethodsData were obtained from the Global School Health Survey conducted in Pakistan (2009). The study population consisted of school going adolescents aged 13 to 15 years. Association of combined unhealthy behaviors with anxiety, suicidal ideation and involvement in physical fight were studied through secondary analysis. We used univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis by complex sample method, accounting for cluster sampling technique used for data collection.ResultsOf the total 4583 students, weighted percentage and unweighted count for one, two, three and four or more unhealthy behaviors was 39.4% (n = 1770), 22.1% (n = 963), 5.9% (n = 274) and 1.2% (n = 62) respectively. The weighted prevalence for anxiety, suicidal ideation and involvement in physical fight were 8.4%, 7.3% and 37.4% respectively. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis after adjustment showed that students who had four or more unhealthy behaviors had higher odds of; being anxious (OR 2.45, 95%CI 1.31-4.59, p value 0.004), suicide ideation (OR 4.56, 95%CI 2.58-8.07, p value <0.001) and being involved in physical fight (OR 3.15, 95% CI 1.63–6.08, p value <0.001) as compared to those who had not adopted any unhealthy behaviors.ConclusionsThis study suggests that the co-occurrence of unhealthy behaviors is associated with anxiety, suicidal ideation and physical fight among adolescents. These findings should be considered when developing interventions to combat detrimental outcomes of unhealthy behaviors during adolescence.
Highlights
Evidence suggests that the disparities in morbidity and mortality which exist among different population groups cannot be fully explained by biomedical factors
Associations between certain unhealthy behaviors such as dietary consumption of fast food & soft drinks, smoking, use of tobacco products and physical inactivity and mental health problems like depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation have been identified in literature [9,10,11,12,13]
Keeping in view the limited contextual evidence regarding effects of unhealthy behaviors on mental health problems and physical fight among adolescents, this study aimed to investigate the association of combined unhealthy lifestyle behaviors including fast food and soft drink intake; smoking and other tobacco products use; and physical inactivity with anxiety, suicidal ideation and involvement in physical fight among school going adolescents in Pakistan
Summary
Evidence suggests that the disparities in morbidity and mortality which exist among different population groups cannot be fully explained by biomedical factors These disparities can be further understood through the study of lifestyle patterns which are shaped by various social and behavioral components [1]. Associations between certain unhealthy behaviors such as dietary consumption of fast food & soft drinks, smoking, use of tobacco products and physical inactivity and mental health problems like depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation have been identified in literature [9,10,11,12,13]. Using the Global School Health Survey, this study examined the association between combined unhealthy behaviors (including fast food, soft drink, smoking, other tobacco products and physical inactivity) and anxiety, suicidal ideation and involvement in physical fight among Pakistani adolescents
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
