Psychological predictors of health-related behaviour in children

Abstract

Psychological variables such as self-efficacy, stress, and coping have proven their predictive power on health protective and health risk behaviour in adolescence and adulthood. Furthermore, health-related behaviour at early stages of development is seen as an important factor in determining health-related behaviour at later stages of development. Consequently, research on psychological variables predicting health-related behaviours at early stages of development should be an important topic with regard to health promotion and disease prevention, although this is still a neglected research area. Therefore, the purpose of the present study is to analyse the importance of psychological variables in predicting health-risky and health protective behaviour in elementary school children. The study sample consisted of 345 fourth-graders (193 girls and 152 boys) with a mean age of 10.1 and 10.0 years, respectively, assessed three times within 1 year. The results showed that negative health-related behaviour is primarily influenced by stress experiences and maladaptive coping. Self-efficacy provides additional effects in girls. For positive health-related behaviour, self-efficacy is the dominant predictor in both girls and boys. The significance of the results for health-promotion during early developmental stages is discussed.

Effect of Health Promotion Education on Presence of Positive Health Behaviors, Level of Anxiety and Self-Concept

“…The program to cope with stress, personal development and relaxation led to a decrease in the children's state and trait anxiety mean scores showing that the children were learning to manage their stress effectively through education (Blankstein, Flett, & Watson, 1992;Klein-Hessling, 2005;Silvestri & Dantonio, 1996;Yurdabakan, 1999). These findings support our research results but are in contrast to those from studies by Omizo and Omizo (1992) in which no change was observed in anxiety level.…”

“…For this reason it is important to improve children's self-concept in order to improve their positive health behaviors. Klein-Hessling, Lohaus, and Ball (2005), however, determined that negative health behaviors have a negative effect on individual's self-efficacy and coping. Stress control programs conducted for the improvement of self-concept, personal development programs, programs for the improvement of self-esteem, and various reading programs have been shown to have a positive effect on individuals' self-perception (Chin, Finocchiora, & Rosenbrough, 1998;Guloglu, 1999;Henderson & Thomas, 1993).…”

An Index of Child Well-being in the European Union

“…Research also shows that risk behaviour is influenced by stress experiences that young people can't manage successfully with positive coping strategies (Klein-Hessling et al, 2005;Essau, 2004). Sexual intercourse at a young age is likely to be unplanned and therefore unprotected (Currie et al, 2004).…”

Child Well-Being in Central and Eastern European Countries (CEE) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)

“…Research also shows that risk behaviour can be a response to stress experiences which young people cannot manage successfully (Klein-Hessling et al 2005).…”