Health as a source of happiness and health-related behaviour of young people

Background
Proper human behaviour is needed to maintain health. Healthy lifestyle patterns develop specifically during childhood and adolescence, a process which helps shape young people, and one which significantly affects various life choices, including those regarding health. The aim of the study was to evaluate the health-related behaviour of young people, and to determine the hierarchical position of health as a symbol of happiness and its interrelations with related symbols. Differences in the postulated sources of happiness were also determined in patients with favourable and adverse health-related behaviour.

Material and methods
The study involved 209 high school students. The age of respondents ranged from 17 to 19 (M = 18, SD = 0.48). The study involved 114 girls (representing 54.5% of the group) and 95 boys (45.4%). The variables were measured using two techniques by Juczynski (2009): the Health Behaviour Inventory (IZZ) and Part I of the Personal Value List (measurement of the symbols of happiness).

Results
The respondents indicated that good health is positioned third in the hierarchy of the determinants of happiness, slightly lower than a large circle of friends. The respondents regard a successful family life as being the greatest determinant of happiness. Higher ratings for health in the hierarchy of the symbols of personal happiness were associated with more favourable adopted health-related behaviour. Similarly, people with favourable health-related behaviour are more likely to choose health as the source of a positive life than those with adverse behaviour.

Conclusions
The high position of health in the scope of a happy life is a positive factor in the health-related behaviour of young people.