The analysis of selected factors contributing to the health behaviors of teenagers

Background. Health behaviors belong to the most important factors determining human health.

Objectives. The aim of this study was to analyze health behaviors of teenagers and factors contributing to these behaviors.

Material and methods. The study was conducted among 74 upper secondary school students, aged 16-19 years, from the Lubuskie Region (33 students) and the West Pomeranian Region (41 students). This survey-based study was performed using a questionnaire that had been previously employed in the doctoral dissertation of Paulina Wojtyła-Buciora.

Results. The vast majority of respondents had sufficient knowledge of healthy diet principles and body weight norms for people. 83.8% of students attended physical education classes. According to 51.4% of respondents, a person should have five meals a day. Most students (93.2%) claimed that having breakfast is important to be healthy. The analysis demonstrated that 74.3% of teenagers had breakfast every day. Girls participated in PE classes and went in for sports statistically significantly more often than boys. There was also a statistically highly significant relationship between gender and previous attempts at losing weight (girls made such attempts significantly more often than boys). The statistical analysis demonstrated a significant relationship between the place of residence and an effort made to get to school and come back home. Teenagers from urban areas undertook this type of physical activity significantly more often than their peers from rural areas.

Conclusions. Upper secondary school students from the Lubuskie and the West Pomeranian Regions display unhealthy behaviors, such as bad eating habits and insufficient physical activity. The place of residence has no significant effects on the level of physical activity of teenagers. Teenagers know how to eat healthy, but their behaviors should be controlled through the implementation of educational programs on healthy lifestyle.