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Predictors of Health Risk Behaviours Among Young Adults: Analysis of the National Population Health Survey

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Abstract

This paper examines the individual and social determinants of physical inactivity, daily smoking, heavy drinking, and overall risk behaviour among 1,395 Canadians aged 20–24 in the 1994 National Population Health Survey. Logistic regression was used to estimate models of risk behaviour using the following variables: sex, mastery, self-esteem, sense of coherence, chronic stress, psychological distress, social support, income adequacy, education, and main activity (working, looking for work, attending school, other). Results of the analysis indicate that the most consistent predictors were chronic stress and main activity. Thus, social context appears to be an important influence on risk-related behaviour, and should be taken into account in approaches designed to promote health behaviours.

Résumé

Cet article examine les déterminants individuels et sociaux de l’inactivité physique, du tabagisme au quotidien, de l’alcoolisme aigu et de la prise de risques en général dans le comportement chez 1 395 Canadiens âgés de 20 à 24 ans, à partir des données de l’Enquête nationale sur la santé de la population de 1994. En recourant à une analyse de régression logistique, on a fait des évaluations des types de comportement à risque à partir des variables suivantes: sexe des individus, maîtrise de soi, estime personnelle, cohérence, stress chronique, détresse psychologique, soutien social, suffisance du revenu, niveau de scolarité, et principale activité (employé, à la recherche d’un emploi, suit des études, autres). Les résultats de l’analyse indiquent que les prédicteurs les plus constants étaient le stress chronique et l’activité principale. Par conséquent, le contexte social semble avoir une influence importante sur les comportements à risque, et doit être pris en considération dans les interventions destinées à promouvoir des comportements sains.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 12 Queen’s Park Crescent West, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A8, Canada

    Kenneth R. Allison PhD (Associate Professor), Edward M. Adlaf PhD & Jürgen Rehm PhD

  2. Addiction Research Foundation Division, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Edward M. Adlaf PhD & Anca Ialomiteanu MA

  3. Fachhochscule Hamburg, Germany

    Jürgen Rehm PhD

Authors
  1. Kenneth R. Allison PhD
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  2. Edward M. Adlaf PhD
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  3. Anca Ialomiteanu MA
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  4. Jürgen Rehm PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kenneth R. Allison PhD.

Additional information

This research was funded by the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute (Grant #96R027). Dr. Allison is supported by a Career Scientist award from the Ontario Ministry of Health.

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Allison, K.R., Adlaf, E.M., Ialomiteanu, A. et al. Predictors of Health Risk Behaviours Among Young Adults: Analysis of the National Population Health Survey. Can J Public Health 90, 85–89 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404107

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404107

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