Health promoting behaviors in adolescence: validation of the Portuguese version of the Adolescent Lifestyle Profile.
OBJECTIVE
Reliable and valid instruments are essential for understanding health-promoting behaviors in adolescents. This study analyzed the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Adolescent Lifestyle Profile (ALP).


METHODS
A linguistic and cultural translation of the ALP was conducted with 236 adolescents from two different settings: a community (n=141) and a clinical setting (n=95). Internal consistency reliability and confirmatory factor analysis were performed.


RESULTS
Results showed an adequate fit to data, yielding a 36-item, seven-factor structure (CMIN/DF=1.667, CFI=0.807, GFI=0.822, RMR=0.051, RMSEA=0.053, PNFI=0.575, PCFI=0.731). The ALP presented a high internal consistency (α=0.866), with the subscales presenting moderate reliability values (from 0.492 to 0.747). The highest values were in Interpersonal Relations (3.059±0.523) and Positive Life Perspective (2.985±0.588). Some gender differences were found. Findings showed that adolescents from the clinic reported an overall healthier lifestyle than those from the community setting (2.598±0.379 vs. 2.504±0.346; t=1.976, p=0.049).


CONCLUSIONS
The ALP Portuguese version is a psychometrically reliable, valid, and useful measurement instrument for assessing health-promoting lifestyles in adolescence. The ALP is cross-culturally validated and can decisively contribute to a better understanding of adolescent health promotion needs. Additional research is needed to evaluate the instrument's predictive validity, as well as its clinical relevance for practice and research.
School of Health Sciences, Instituto Politécnico de Leiria, Leiria, Portugal; Health Research Unit (UIS), Instituto Politécnico de Leiria, Leiria, Portugal. Electronic address: pedro.sousa@ipleiria.pt.
Pedro
P
Sousa
School of Health Sciences, Instituto Politécnico de Leiria, Leiria, Portugal; Health Research Unit (UIS), Instituto Politécnico de Leiria, Leiria, Portugal.
Pedro
P
Gaspar
School of Medicine, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal; Pediatric Obesity Clinic, Department of Pediatrics, Hospital de Santa Maria (HSM), Lisbon, Portugal.
Helena
H
Fonseca
School of Nursing, Auburn University, Auburn, United States.
Constance
C
Hendricks
College of Nursing, University of Arizona, Tucson, United States.
Carolyn
C
Murdaugh
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014177:Translations
Adolescentes; Adolescents; Estilo de vida; Health-promoting; Instrument validation; Lifestyle; Portuguese; Português; Promoção da saúde; Psicometria; Psychometric; Validação instrumental