The clustering of multiple health and lifestyle behaviors among Swedish adolescents: a person-oriented analysis



Jonsson, Kenisha Russell, Corell, Maria, Lofstedt, Petra and Adjei, Nicholas Kofi
(2023) The clustering of multiple health and lifestyle behaviors among Swedish adolescents: a person-oriented analysis. FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH, 11. 1178353-.

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Abstract

<h4>Background</h4>Knowledge of the distribution, prevalence, and clustering of multiple health and lifestyle related behaviors (HLBs) among adolescents can inform the development of effective health-promoting policies and interventions. We assessed the clustering of multiple HLBs among 11, 13 and 15-year-old Swedish adolescents and examined the socioeconomic and demographic correlates for the identified clusters.<h4>Methods</h4>We used data from the 2017/2018 Swedish Health Behaviour in School-aged children (HBSC) study to conduct sex and age-stratified latent class analysis (LCA). The LCA was based on five HLBs: eating behavior and habits (EBH), physical activity (PA), tobacco usage (TU), alcohol consumption (AC) and sleeping habits and patterns (SHPs). Multinomial logistic regression models were used to assess the associations between the identified clusters and the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of adolescents and their parents.<h4>Results</h4>Health behaviors varied by sex and age. Four distinct clusters were identified based on sex: cluster 1 (Mixed eating behaviors and habits, physical activity and low alcohol consumption), cluster 2 (Healthy lifestyle behaviors), cluster 3 (Unhealthy lifestyle behaviors), and cluster 4 (Breakfast, low alcohol consumption and tobacco usage). In the age-stratified analyzes, three clusters were identified: cluster 1 (Unhealthy lifestyle behaviors), cluster 2 (Moderately healthy lifestyle behaviors) and cluster 3 (Healthy lifestyle behaviors). The multinomial analysis showed that sex, age, family situation and perceived family wealth were strong predictors of health behaviors. Unhealthy behaviors were most commonly associated with socioeconomic disadvantage, having a migrant background, and living in reconstructed families or single-parent households.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Health behaviors vary significantly based on socioeconomic and demographic circumstances. Targeted policies and intervention programs are necessary to improve HLBs among vulnerable and at-risk adolescents.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: alcohol, children and adolescents, diet, health behaviors, lifestyle, physical activity, sleep, smoking
Divisions: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Population Health
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 06 Feb 2024 11:12
Last Modified: 06 Feb 2024 11:12
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1178353
Open Access URL: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1178353
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URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3178470