title: Socio-demographic predictors of health behaviors in Mexican college students.
abstract: Our objectives in this cross-sectional descriptive study were to analyze to what extent freshmen exhibit healthy behaviors, which socio-demographic variables predict healthy or unhealthy lifestyle, and what is the strength of the relationship. Three hundred seven Mexican University students were assessed. t-Test and adjusted multiple regression analysis were computed. Life style was measured by use of the HPLP-II questionnaire and socio-demographics data. The results showed that most students presented a non-healthy lifestyle profile. Overall, the health behavior score was predicted by sex, mother's education and socio-economic level (R(2) = 0.104; p = 0.00001). When controlling for the other variables, nutrition was partially predicted by mother's education (R(2) = 0.048; p = 0.001); physical activity and stress management were modulated by sex, marital status and mother's education (R(2) = 0.111, p < 0.0001; R(2) = 0.096; p = 0.0001, respectively); interpersonal relations were predicted by mother's education and socio-economic level (R(2) = 0.104; p < 0.0001). These influences should be taken into account in designing interventions for specific socio-demographic profiles that might be at higher risk for certain behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. sara.ulla@aeval.es
authors.forename: Sara M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ulla Díez
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pérez-Fortis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D012923:Social Class; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult