title: Adolescent health behavior and conventionality-unconventionality: an extension of problem-behavior theory.
abstract: Examined the relation of psychosocial and behavioral conventionality-unconventionality to health-related behavior in cross-sectional data from 1,588 male and female 7th to 12th graders. Conventionality-unconventionality was represented by personality, perceived social environment, and behavior variables selected from the social-psychological framework of problem-behavior theory (R. Jessor & S. L. Jessor, 1977). Greater psychosocial conventionality correlates with more regular involvement in health-related behavior (regular physical activity, adequate sleep, safety belt use, attention to healthy diet). Greater behavioral conventionality (less involvement in problem behaviors such as marijuana use, problem drinking, delinquent-type behavior, and greater involvement in conventional behaviors such as church attendance) was also associated with greater involvement in health-maintaining behavior. The overall findings provide support for the extension of problem-behavior theory to the domain of adolescent health behavior and for the relevance of the dimension of conventionality-unconventionality.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado, Boulder 80309-0483.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Donovan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jessor
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Costa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000523:psychology; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010553:Personality Development; D012307:Risk Factors; D012925:Social Conformity; D012931:Social Environment