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Health risk behaviors of rural sixth graders
Author(s) -
Felton Gwen M.,
Pate Russell R.,
Parsons Mary Ann,
Ward Dianne S.,
Saunders Ruth P.,
Trost Stewart,
Dowda Marsha
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
research in nursing and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1098-240X
pISSN - 0160-6891
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-240x(199812)21:6<475::aid-nur2>3.0.co;2-q
Subject(s) - psychological intervention , obesity , population , medicine , sample (material) , psychology , environmental health , clinical psychology , gerontology , psychiatry , chemistry , chromatography
The purposes of this study were to examine the frequency and risk factors (correlates) of single and concurrent health risk behaviors (HRBs) including obesity, physical inactivity, smoking, and alcohol use in a sample of 352 rural, predominately African‐American sixth graders. This study was guided by Jessor's (1992) adolescent risk behavior conceptual framework. Data were collected using physical measures and a self‐report questionnaire. Thirty‐two percent of the sample had no HRB, 44% had one HRB, and 24% had two or more HRBs. Obesity and physical inactivity were more prevalent in this sample than in the general population. Gender differences in risk factors were evident. Our findings suggest the testing of interventions that focus on the social needs of girls and that influence behavioral modeling for boys to reduce single and concurrent health risk behaviors. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Res Nurs Health 21:475–485, 1998