Number Of Health Risk Behaviors Research Articles

Association between sociodemographic determinants and health behaviors, and clustering of health risk behaviors among 28,047 adults: a cross-sectional study among adults from the general Norwegian population

BackgroundUnderstanding the associations between health behaviors and which subgroups are at risk of developing health risk behaviors is vital knowledge to develop effective public health interventions to reduce the high prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The objective of the study was to assess the association between physical activity, diet, tobacco use, and alcohol consumption and sociodemographic determinants (sex and education), and to examine clustering patterns of these health behaviors.MethodData was collected from an online self-reported questionnaire from the Norwegian public health survey conducted in 2019. The study sample consisted of 28,047 adults (≥ 18 years old) from Agder county in Southern Norway. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analysis were used to determine the association between sex and education according to physical activity, diet, tobacco use and alcohol consumption. Linear regression was used to examine the association between educational level and number of health risk behaviors, and cluster analysis were performed to determine cluster patterns.ResultsFemales were more likely than men to meet the national public health recommendations for diet (p < 0.001), tobacco use (p < 0.01), and alcohol consumption (p < 0.001). High education was associated with meeting the recommendations for each of the four health behaviors and with a lower risk of having three or four health risk behaviors simultaneously. Furthermore, clustering of health risk behaviors was observed in five of the sixteen health behavior patterns.ConclusionOur findings show a higher risk of having multiple health risk behaviors for males and individuals with low education, and these subgroup findings could inform public health policy and be target goals in future public health interventions. Clustering patterns were observed in over 30% of the health behavior patterns. More research is needed on the causal relationship between health behaviors and socioeconomic factors, and the association between clustering and health outcomes to design effective interventions in the future.

Examining health risk behaviors of self-employed and employed workers in Japan: a cross-sectional study

ObjectivesSelf-employed workers have a higher risk for adverse health outcomes than employed workers. However, the differences in health risk behaviors by employment status are largely unknown. This study examined differences in health risk behaviors between self-employed and employed (permanent/non-permanent) workers by sex and age (20–59 years, 60–79 years). Study designThis was a cross-sectional study involving community-dwelling adults living in urban cities in Japan. MethodsIn 2019, we conducted a mail survey in Wako city, Saitama, and Fuchu city, Tokyo. In total, 30,315 adults aged ≥18 years were randomly selected, and 14,185 completed the survey (response rate: 46.8%). The participants for analysis were 8538 workers. Health risk behaviors included physical inactivity (<150 min/wk of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity), prolonged sitting (>480 min/d), high-frequency drinking (≥3 d/wk), tobacco use (current smoker), and overweight (body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2). We also calculated the total number of health risk behaviors. ResultsSelf-employed workers had more health risk behaviors than permanent and non-permanent employees, with this difference more significant among younger males. In younger males, compared with self-employment, permanent employment was associated with less tobacco use, and non-permanent employment was associated with less physical inactivity, prolonged sitting, high-frequency drinking, and overweight. In younger females, non-permanent employment was associated with less prolonged sitting and overweight than self-employment. In older males and females, the prevalence of physical inactivity was lower in non-permanent employed than in self-employed workers. ConclusionsPromoting health behaviors among self-employed may be beneficial for reducing health inequalities between self-employed and employed workers.

Adverse childhood experiences and low socioeconomic status with respect to allostatic load in adulthood: A systematic review

Early-life psychosocial stress primes a number of health risk behaviors, and contributes to the development of various mental and somatic disorders in adulthood. It has been reported that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and low socioeconomic status (SES) might be associated with allostatic load (AL) in adulthood. In turn, elevated AL index has been found to predict a number of unfavorable health outcomes. Therefore, we aimed to perform a systematic review of studies investigating the association of ACEs and childhood SES with AL in adult populations. Independent online searches covered the publication period up to 20th Jun 2021. A total of 27 studies were included in qualitative synthesis. The majority of eligible studies showed that ACEs (14 out of 19 studies recording ACEs, 73.7%) and low childhood SES (11 out of 12 studies recording childhood SES, 91.7%) are associated with elevated AL in adults. However, several processes were found to mediate or moderate this association. These include educational attainments, social support, health behaviors, adult stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, coping strategies and aging. Moreover, a substantial methodological heterogeneity of approaches to calculating the AL index was observed. Apart from reports from overlapping samples, none of eligible studies used the same set of biomarkers. Findings from this systematic review imply that early-life psychosocial stress might have a lasting impact on biological dysregulations captured by the AL index. Future studies need to explore whether the association between early-life stress and the AL index accounts for the development of specific health outcomes.

Longitudinal patterns and predictors of multiple health risk behaviors among adolescents: The TRAILS study

BackgroundMost studies on multiple health risk behaviors among adolescents have cross-sectionally studied a limited number of health behaviors or determinants. PurposeTo examine the prevalence, longitudinal patterns and predictors of individual and multiple health risk behaviors among adolescents. MethodsEight health risk behaviors (no regular consumption of fruit, vegetables or breakfast, overweight or obesity, physical inactivity, smoking, alcohol use and cannabis use) were assessed in a prospective population study (second and third wave). Participants were assessed in three waves between ages 10 and 17 (2001–2008; n=2230). Multiple linear regression was used to assess the influence of gender, self-control, parental health risk behaviors, parental monitoring and socioeconomic factors on the number of health risk behaviors adjusted for preceding multiple health risk behaviors (analysis: 2013–2014). ResultsRates of >5 health risk behaviors were high: 3.6% at age 13.5 and 10.2% at age 16. Smoking at age 13.5 was frequently associated with health risk behaviors at age 16. No regular consumption of fruit, vegetables and breakfast, overweight or obesity, physical inactivity and smoking predicted the co-occurrence of health risk behaviors at follow-up. Significant predictors of the development of multiple health risk behaviors were adolescents' levels of self-control, socioeconomic status and maternal smoking. ConclusionsMultiple health risk behaviors are common among adolescents. Individual and social factors predict changes in multiple health risk behaviors, showing that prevention targeting multiple risk behaviors is needed. Special attention should be paid to adolescents with low self-control and families with low socioeconomic status or a mother who smokes.

Comparison of health risk behavior, awareness, and health benefit beliefs of health science and non-health science students: An international study.

This study determines the differences in health risk behavior, knowledge, and health benefit beliefs between health science and non-health science university students in 17 low and middle income countries. Anonymous questionnaire data were collected in a cross-sectional survey of 13,042 undergraduate university students (4,981 health science and 8,061 non-health science students) from 17 universities in 17 countries across Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Results indicate that overall, health science students had the same mean number of health risk behaviors as non-health science university students. Regarding addictive risk behavior, fewer health science students used tobacco, were binge drinkers, or gambled once a week or more. Health science students also had a greater awareness of health behavior risks (5.5) than non-health science students (4.6). Linear regression analysis found a strong association with poor or weak health benefit beliefs and the health risk behavior index. There was no association between risk awareness and health risk behavior among health science students and an inverse association among non-health science students.

Associations Between Sleep and Health-Risk Behaviors in a Rural Adolescent Population

IntroductionInsufficient sleep has been associated with engagement in a number of health-risk behaviors in adolescents, including substance use and sexual activity. Associations between sleep and health-risk behaviors in adolescents living in rural areas of the United States are not well investigated. In rural settings, adolescents' sleep patterns, lifestyle factors, and health-risk opportunities may differ from those of urban adolescents, making the independent study of sleep and health behavior associations necessary. MethodThis study examined data from the Rural Adolescent Health Survey (N = 322) administered in rural North Dakota. ResultsRural adolescents who reported engaging in smoking, alcohol use, or drug use slept significantly less than adolescents who did not report engaging in these activities. DiscussionSleep was not associated with chewing tobacco use or risky sexual activity, which may reflect an effect of rural cultural values on sleep and health-risk behavior associations.

Examining relationships between multiple health risk behaviors, well-being, and productivity.

Traditionally, the concept of health promotion has emphasized the reduction of health risk behaviors to reduce disease and impairment. Well-being research expands this focus to include positive constructs such as thriving, productivity, life-evaluation, and emotional and physical health. The objective of the present study was to examine the relationships between health risk behaviors and specific measures of individual well-being. Participants (N = 790) from 49 states completed a one-time online assessment that included the Life-Evaluation Index, Emotional and Physical Health Ladders, the Health Risk Intervention Assessment, and the Work Productivity and Activity Improvement Questionnaire for General Health. Life Evaluation and physical and emotional health were all inversely related to the number of health risk behaviors, with higher well-being scores associated with lower number of risk behaviors. Across the three Life Evaluation categories (Suffering, Struggling, and Thriving) the number of health risk behaviors decreased, productivity loss decreased, and emotional and physical health increased. The results add to previous research on how reducing multiple health risk behaviors can be combined with well-being, i.e., an emphasis on increasing life-evaluation, emotional and physical health, better functioning, and productivity.

Prevention of Health Risk Behaviors in ADHD Youth: Is ADHD Treatment Enough?

Learning in ADHD Students, 8 • Research Findings, 10 ADHD confers risk for a variety of life difficulties into adulthood, including higher rates of injuries, hospitalizations, and medical treatment. These health problems result in twice the average healthcare costs for young people with ADHD compared to those without (Leibson, Katusic, Barbaresi, Ransom, & O’Brien, 2001). Beginning in childhood and adolescence, ADHD is associated with a number of health risk behaviors that contribute to chronic medical problems, namely substance use, binge eating and obesity, and risky sexual behavior. Despite these risks, individuals with ADHD have not been specifically targeted for prevention and health promotion efforts, and no previous review has systematically examined how the mechanisms underlying the connection between ADHD and health risk behaviors may inform prevention strategies. Further, relatively little is known about whether evidencebased treatments for ADHD, including stimulant medications and behavioral interventions, impact health behaviors and affect long-term health risks. This paper summarizes the literature on the relation of ADHD to three health risk behaviors—substance use, disordered eating, and risky sexual behavior—and discusses how potential mechanisms underlying these risks may inform intervention strategies. Specifically, we will examine two potential pathways for improving medical health in this large, high-risk population—through direct treatment of ADHD symptoms and through intervention to modify social and contextual risk factors that contribute to health problems.

Brief Sensation Seeking Scale for Chinese – Cultural adaptation and psychometric assessment

International behavioral research requires instruments that are not culturally-biased to assess sensation seeking. In this study we described a culturally adapted version of the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale for Chinese (BSSS-C) and its psychometric characteristics. The adapted scale was assessed using an adult sample (n=238) with diverse educational and residential backgrounds. The BSSS-C (Cronbach alpha=0.90) was correlated with the original Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (r=0.85, p<0.01) and fitted the four-factor model well (CFI=0.98, SRMR=0.03). The scale scores significantly predicted intention to and actual engagement in a number of health risk behaviors, including alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, and sexual risk behaviors. In conclusion, the BSSS-C has adequate reliability and validity, supporting its utility in China and potential in other developing countries.

Health Risk Behavior and Sexual Assault Among Ethnically Diverse Women

Sexual assault is associated with a number of health risk behaviors in women. It has been hypothesized that these risk behaviors, such as hazardous drinking, may represent women's attempts to cope with psychological distress, such as symptoms of depression and anxiety. However, extant research has failed to evaluate these relationships among ethnic minority samples or identify the mechanisms responsible for this association. The current study examined sexual assault history and two health risk behaviors (hazardous drinking and engaging in sexual behavior to regulate negative affect) in a diverse sample of 1,620 college women. Depression and anxiety were examined as mediators of the relationship between sexual assault and health risk behaviors. There was evidence of moderated mediation, such that for European American women, but not for ethnic minority women, both forms of psychological distress were significant mediators of the sexual assault/hazardous drinking relationship. In contrast, among all ethnic groups, the relationship between sexual assault and both forms of psychological distress was mediated by the use of sexual behavior as an affect regulation strategy. Results support a need to evaluate the assault experiences of ethnically diverse women, as well as the impact of the assault on their postassault experiences including health risk behaviors and psychological adjustment. Additionally, results suggest that practitioners should carefully assess health risk behaviors among victims of sexual assault and be aware that there may be differences in the risk factors and motives for these behaviors among women of various ethnic backgrounds.

Sexual victimization among male college students: Assault severity, sexual functioning, and health risk behaviors.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between college men’s sexual victimization experiences, engagement in a number of health risk behaviors, and sexual functioning. The study also examined sexual victimization by assault severity categories and utilized a multiitem, behaviorally specific, gender-neutral measure. Three hundred and two male college students were recruited for the current study from a midsized Midwestern university. Of these men, 51.2% reported at least one sexual victimization experience since age 16. The multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) results suggested that male sexual victimization is related to increased weekly alcohol consumption, increased problematic drinking behaviors, increased tobacco use, increased sexual risk-taking behaviors, and increased number of reported sexual functioning difficulties. Each of these problematic behaviors was greater among those who reported rape compared to no victimization, and some differences were also found in relation to the sexual contact and sexual coercion groups. These findings have important implications in sexual assault prevention and risk-reduction programming.

Risk propensity and health risk behaviors in U.S. army soldiers with and without psychological disturbances across the deployment cycle

Anecdotal and preliminary evidence suggests that Soldiers returning from a combat deployment engage in an increased number of health risk behaviors. Three potential factors driving this change were examined in this study; posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), concussion and traumatic brain injury (TBI), and perceived invincibility. We studied members of a combat arms brigade one month prior to a deployment to Iraq and approximately one month after their return (N = 319). Participants anonymously completed surveys characterizing attitudes about risk, risk propensity, invincibility, engagement in health risk behaviors, and personality. Using standardized screening instruments, participants were categorized with respect to PTSD and probable TBI. Results suggest that Soldiers engage in more alcohol use and reckless driving behaviors post-deployment. These changes were exaggerated in those who screened positive for PTSD. Perception of one’s invincibility and survival skills increased post-deployment thus suggesting that participants felt less susceptible to adverse consequences and more adept at surviving dangerous situations. This study provides documentation of the pattern of health behavior in Soldiers engaged in the deployment cycle. Our findings suggest increases in the number of risks Soldiers’ engage in post-deployment are not limited to those with PTSD symptomtotology. This study has implications for not only adjustment to life post-deployment at the individual level but also operational readiness.

Patterns and correlates of multiple risk behaviors in overweight women

Background.Knowledge about the prevalence, co-occurrence, and correlates of lifestyle related behaviors of overweight women is needed to inform the design of health promotion interventions for weight loss. Methods.Cross-sectional study involves 394 overweight and obese women, aged 18 to 55 (mean age=41.26), 39% from minority backgrounds, recruited through primary care clinics for a weight loss trial. Dependent variables were the proportion meeting recommended levels of physical activity (measured with an Actigraph), percent calories from fat, and servings of fruits and vegetables (assessed with a Food Frequency Questionnaire, FFQ) and accumulating less than 8 h/day of sedentary time for sedentary behavior (Actigraph). Covariates included socio-demographics, psychosocial variables, diet behaviors, and depression. Results.Seventy-five percent of the sample did not engage in at least 30 min/day of physical activity, and 56% spent less than 8 h/day in sedentary activities. About 76% and 79% of the sample did not meet the dietary fat, and fruits and vegetable consumption guidelines, respectively. Two-thirds of the sample had three or more risk factors. Being employed full-time, lower education level, less use of physical activity change strategies, and low levels of social support were associated with higher likelihood of having a greater total number of health risk behaviors. Conclusion.Nearly 80% of the sample had multiple lifestyle risk behaviors. Poor dietary behaviors were present in all of the most prevalent risk behavior combinations. Lower socioeconomic and educational status and family and employment obligations characterize overweight and obese women with unhealthy activity and dietary behaviors in need of health promotion interventions.

Adult health status of women with histories of childhood abuse and neglect

Purpose: Several recent studies have found associations between childhood maltreatment and adverse adult health outcomes. However, methodologic problems with accurate case determination, appropriate sample selection, and predominant focus on sexual abuse have limited the generalizability of these findings. Subjects and Methods: We administered a survey to 1,225 women who were randomly selected from the membership of a large, staff model health maintenance organization in Seattle, Washington. We compared women with and without histories of childhood maltreatment experiences with respect to differences in physical health status, functional disability, numbers and types of self-reported health risk behaviors, common physical symptoms, and physician-coded ICD-9 diagnoses. Results: A history of childhood maltreatment was significantly associated with several adverse physical health outcomes. Maltreatment status was associated with perceived poorer overall health (ES = 0.31), greater physical (ES = 0.23) and emotional (ES = 0.37) functional disability, increased numbers of distressing physical symptoms (ES = 0.52), and a greater number of health risk behaviors (ES = 0.34). Women with multiple types of maltreatment showed the greatest health decrements for both self-reported symptoms ( r = 0.31) and physician coded diagnoses ( r = 0.12). Conclusions: Women with childhood maltreatment have a wide range of adverse physical health outcomes.

The relationship between early age of onset of initial substance use and engaging in multiple health risk behaviors among young adolescents.

Previous research based on problem-behavior theory has found that early age of onset of substance use is associated with engaging in multiple health risk behaviors among high school students. It is unknown whether these relationships begin during early adolescence. To examine the relationships between early age of onset of cigarette, alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine use and engaging in multiple risk behaviors among middle school students. A modified version of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Youth Risk Behavior Survey was administered to 2227 sixth through eighth grade students attending 53 randomly selected middle schools in North Carolina. A Health Risk Behavior Scale was constructed from 16 behaviors, including indicators of violence and weapon carrying; current substance use; nonuse of helmets when biking, in-line skating or skateboarding; not wearing a seat belt; riding with a driver who had been drinking; and suicide plans. Among this sample of middle school students, the scale had a mean (SD) of 4.1 (2.7) (range=O-15), and had a high internal reliability coefficient (alpha(=0.74). The independent variables included first time use of cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine at age 11 years or earlier; actual age of onset of each substance; race and ethnicity; family composition; sex; school grade; academic ranking; and older age for school grade. These data were analyzed with analysis of variance, Spearman r, and multiple linear regression. All the independent variables were found to be associated (P<.005) with the Health Risk Behavior Scale during the bivariate analyses. When each of these significant variables were entered into a multiple regression model, having smoked at age 11 years or younger accounted for 21.9% of the variation in the Health Risk Behavior Scale. Male sex, early marijuana or cocaine use, older age, lower academic rank, white race, and living in a 1-parent family explained an additional 19.1% of variation in the model (adjusted R2=0.41, P<.001). When the actual ages of onset of the use of substances were analyzed, in order of magnitude; age of onset of smoking; male sex; age of onset of alcohol and marijuana use; age; lower academic ranking; age of onset of cocaine use; white race; and lower academic rating accounted for 52.8% (P<.001) of the variation in the Health Risk Behavior Scale. Even when considering sociodemographic factors, early age of onset of cigarette use was the strongest correlate of the number of health risk behaviors in which these young adolescents had engaged. Early onset of use of other substances was also associated with a clustering of health risk behaviors among this sample of middle school students. The findings suggest that screening for early experimentation with tobacco and other substance use will help identify young adolescents at increased risk for engaging in multiple health risk behaviors.

Applications of a theoretic model of information exposure to health interventions.

A theoretic model of attention to messages has been used to guide an extensive series of laboratory and field experiments involving the mass media and, more recently, classroom instruction and health interventions. The model draws on individual differences in need for novelty as a basis both for identifying target audiences most likely to engage in a number of health-risk behaviors, such as drug and alcohol abuse and risky sex, and as a guide for designing messages to attract and hold the attention of these same individuals, who make up the prime target audience for many campaigns. These strategies have been successful in bringing about changes in attitudes and behavioral intentions in experimental studies, and in reaching at-risk audience segments in field studies through novel televised public service announcements placed in appropriate television programming.