Influence factors associated with health risk behaviors of middle school students in the poverty area of China: An observational study

• Published in: Medicine (Baltimore) 2022-08, Vol.101 (33), p.e29922-e29922
• Main Authors: Ge, Gaoqi, Huangfu, Chaoji, Ge, Min, Gao, Yuxia, Tang, Nan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; China - epidemiology; Health Risk Behaviors; Humans; Observational Study; Poverty Areas; Schools; Social Support - methods; Social Support - trends; Students
• ISSN: 1536-5964; 0025-7974; 1536-5964
• DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000029922

We aim to investigate the status and influence factors of health risk behaviors among middle school students and explore the relationship between social support, family care, and the health risk behaviors. The study was conducted in 3 middle schools in the Fan county located in the Puyang city. Independent measures were applied to assess adolescent health risk behaviors, perceive social support, and family care. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyze the main factors that affect adolescent health risk behaviors. The total scores of health risk behaviors were 53.87 ± 9.97, and all kinds of health risk behaviors were very common. The highest score was health-compromising (2.45 ± 0.43), and the lowest score was unprotected sex behaviors (1.07 ± 0.28). Multiple regression analysis showed that sex ( P < .001), grade ( P < .001), parent relationships ( P < .001), father’s occupation ( P = .035), mother’s education level ( P = .011), social support ( P < .001), affection ( P < .001), and growth ( P = .003) were the main factors of health risk behaviors, accounting for 25.3%. The health risk behaviors among middle school students in Fan county should attract the attention of education administration, schools, and parent due to the varied influencing factors. Related interventions should be conducted to reduce the severity and frequency of adolescent health risk behaviors and protect the health and growth of adolescents. In order to better analyze the health risk behaviors of middle school students, we will incorporate more influencing factors and carry out further causal analysis in the future.