title: Determinants of positive health behavior in middle childhood.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the contributions of sociodemographic variables, health experiences, family functioning, self-esteem, intrinsic motivation, and health perception to the health behaviors of preadolescent children. A convenience sample of 9- and 10-year-old children (N = 260) and their mothers responded to self-report questionnaires. Health behaviors were found to be gender specific and formed partially through a set of background variables that are largely fixed and nonmodifiable; these variables then interface with explanatory, modifiable factors that include the child's self-esteem, intrinsic motivation, and perceptions of health. Two models are described; 53% of the variance in girls' behavior and 63% of the variance in boys' behavior are explained.
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois, Chicago, College of Nursing.
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Farrand
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Cox
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois / Q000453:epidemiology; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors