An exploratory study to investigate cognitive-motivational variables as predictors of health behaviours in adolescents

Objective This study examines the relation between cognitive-motivational variables and self-reported health behaviours among adolescents. Design Cross-sectional survey of adolescents via questionnaires delivered in classrooms. Setting One large junior high school and two senior high schools located...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Health education journal 2004-12, Vol.63 (4), p.293-306
Main Authors: Tyc, Vida L, Nuttbrock-Allen, Deanna, Klosky, James L, Ey, Sydney
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent Attitudes
Adolescents
Biological and medical sciences
Cognitive motivation
Cognitive Processes
Gender Differences
Grade 12
Health Behavior
Health behaviour
Health Education
Health Promotion
High Schools
Medical sciences
Miscellaneous
Predictors
Program Development
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Questionnaires
Risk
Scores
Students
Surveys
USA
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Summary:Objective This study examines the relation between cognitive-motivational variables and self-reported health behaviours among adolescents. Design Cross-sectional survey of adolescents via questionnaires delivered in classrooms. Setting One large junior high school and two senior high schools located in the Memphis area. Method Data from 257 7th to 12th graders were used to determine their practice of health behaviours as well as their perceptions of health status and vulnerability, optimism and rebelliousness/risk taking. Results Adolescent males and females who were less rebellious and had better health perceptions reported healthier behavioural practices. A stronger significant inverse relationship between perceived vulnerability and health behaviour scores was found for females. Optimism was significantly and positively correlated with health behaviour scores only among females. Adolescents in lower grades obtained higher health behaviour scores than adolescents in higher grades. Males had higher rebelliousness scores than females. Demographic and cognitive- motivational variables accounted for 26 per cent of the variance in health behaviour scores. Conclusion Cognitive-motivational factors should be considered when designing health promotion programmes for adolescents.
ISSN:0017-8969
1748-8176
DOI:10.1177/001789690406300402