title: [Health behaviour and changes in health behaviour - are education and social status relevant?].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Individual health behaviour counts as an important factor for health status. A healthier lifestyle substantially contributes to better health. People burdened with lower health and with lower socio-economic status could benefit notably. So far it is not known exhaustively to what extent education and social status contribute to changes in health behaviour and which motifs play a decisive role.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on cross-sectional data from the seventh wave of the "Gesundheitsmonitor", Bertelsmann Foundation, (n=1 436), the influence of social status and education on health behaviour and changes in behaviour was analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Specific health behaviour correlates with level of education and socio-economic status. In contrast, regarding health behaviour changes in the last 12 months prior to survey, no social class- or education-specific effect was found. Age, health status as well as fears and wishes in relation to health seem to be important causalities for changes of health-related behaviour.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interventions to foster healthy lifestyles should include class differences in specific health-related behaviour and personal reasons for behavioural changes.
authors: Fachbereich Sozialwesen, Fachhochschule Bielefeld.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Altenhöner
authors: Fachbereich Sozialwesen, Fachhochschule Bielefeld.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Philippi
authors: Bertelsmann Stiftung, Gütersloh.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Böcken
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D015438:Health Behavior; D057220:Health Literacy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012923:Social Class; D012924:Social Conditions