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Open Access 01-12-2021 | Research article

Association between self-control and health risk behaviors: a cross-sectional study with 9th grade adolescents in São Paulo

Authors: Roberta Corradi Astolfi, Maria Alvim Leite, Cassio Henrique Gomide Papa, Marcelo Ryngelblum, Manuel Eisner, Maria Fernanda Tourinho Peres

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Background

Self-control (SC) has been consistently found associated with diverse health risk behaviors (HRBs), but little research refers to low- and middle-income countries. Furthermore, there is evidence that some HRBs tend to aggregate, however studies with the specific purpose of addressing the relation between SC and multiple health risk behaviors (MHRBs) are rare. The objective of this study is to analyze these associations and provide evidence to help filling these gaps.

Methods

A sample of 2106 9th grade students from the city of São Paulo responded a self-administered questionnaire in 2017. We tested the association of SC measured as an ordinal variable with four levels (higher, high, medium and low) with six HRBs (binge drinking, marijuana use, smoking, high consumption of ultra-processed food, sedentary behavior and bullying perpetration), in both separated and aggregated forms (MHRBs), controlling for potential confounders. Binary logistic regression was used to test the association between exposure (SC) and single outcomes. In order to analyze the association of SC with MHRBs, multinomial logistic regression was employed.

Results

SC was associated with five of six HRBs investigated and with MHRBs. The effect size of the association of SC and MHRBs increased in a steep pattern with accumulation of more HRBs.

Conclusion

Low self-control is associated with most HRBs investigated and the magnitude of the association increases when more than two or three HRBs are accumulated. There seems to be a group of adolescents in a position of pronounced vulnerability for MHRBs. This should be considered when designing public policy and prevention programs. In contexts of limited or scarce resources and public funds, interventions focusing the most vulnerable groups, instead of universal interventions, should be considered.

Available only for authorised users

To our knowledge, only Rebellon [51] included subjects from Brazil, adolescents or otherwise, in a study of crime. However, it was a convenience sample of less than 400 college students.

For the scales constructed by mean of responses, a minimum of 80% response was adopted as criterion of inclusion. For summative scales, only questionnaires with all answers in the scale were included.

Not shown.

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Title: Association between self-control and health risk behaviors: a cross-sectional study with 9th grade adolescents in São Paulo
Authors: Roberta Corradi Astolfi
Maria Alvim Leite
Cassio Henrique Gomide Papa
Marcelo Ryngelblum
Manuel Eisner
Maria Fernanda Tourinho Peres
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11718-4

2024 ASCO Annual Meeting

Springer Medicine

Association between self-control and health risk behaviors: a cross-sectional study with 9th grade adolescents in São Paulo

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

2024 ASCO Annual Meeting

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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