Does Flourishing Reduce Engagement in Unhealthy and Risky Lifestyle Behaviours in Emerging Adults?

Abstract

Emerging adulthood is a transitional life stage with increased probability of risky and unhealthy lifestyle behaviours that are known to have strong links with premature mortality and morbidity. Wellbeing, as a positive subjective experience, is identified as a factor that encourages self-care and may steer individuals away from risky lifestyle behaviours. Investigating wellbeing–behaviour links in the emerging adult population may increase understanding of the factors that lead to, and ways to prevent, engagement in risky behaviours. This study examines the association between flourishing, that is, the experience of both high hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing, and a broad range of risky and unhealthy lifestyle behaviours among emerging adults in Australia. A cross-sectional survey of 1155 emerging adults aged 18–25 years measured wellbeing, socio-demographics, and six groups of lifestyle behaviours surrounding substance use, physical activity, diet, sex, sun protection, and driving. Bivariate and multivariate statistics were used to analyse the data. The findings revealed that flourishing was negatively associated with more dangerous types of risk behaviours, such as driving under the influence of drugs, and positively associated with self-care behaviours, such as healthier dietary behaviour and sun protection. If enabling emerging adults to flourish can contribute to reduced engagement in risky/unhealthy lifestyle behaviours, then promoting it is an important goal for health promotion efforts not only because flourishing is desirable in its own right, but also to bring about sustainable change in behaviour. Further research is needed to inform the designs of such interventions.

Mental health and physical activity in vocational education and training schools students: a population-based survey

“…A recent study among shows that insufficiently physically active emerging adults have higher odds for not experiencing high mental health, both when it is measured solely as the hedonic dimension, the eudaimonic dimension and as a multidimensional measure. 17 This is in line with others’ studies among college and university students showing that students who either meet the MVPA or VPA guidelines have lower odds of perceived stress, mental distress symptoms or social isolation 21–23 and higher odds of experiencing happiness, personal well-being and mental well-being. 22 , 23 Regardless of directionality, the existing evidence suggest a positive association between positive mental health aspects and adherence to PA guidelines.…”

Predictors of Higher-Order Affective Skills in Health Promotion Among Indonesian Nursing Students: Assessment and Evaluation

“…Their demographic profile confirms that participants were undergoing the transition between adolescence and young adulthood and thus susceptible to making unhealthy choices (Martins et al, 2020). If emerging adults neglect to flourish their well-being, this critical stage can increase their engagement in unhealthy lifestyles (Sofija et al, 2020), creating values while prioritizing identity over healthy behaviors (Molenaar et al, 2020). Thus, enabling undergraduate students and considering their diverse backgrounds can support the learning of health-promoting behaviors beyond the nursing curriculum’s cognitive domain.…”

“…Most undergraduate students undergo the stage of “emerging adulthood.” This period refers to a dynamic transition from adolescence into young adulthood (Hochberg & Konner, 2020), when an emerging sense of autonomy over one’s life leads to the internalization of health-promoting behaviors (Park et al, 2021). Adulting can also be an overwhelming experience with significant life changes and stressors (Matud et al, 2020) that immobilize effective coping strategies (Jenzer et al, 2019) and lead to unhealthy and risky behaviors (Sofija et al, 2020). These consequences may deteriorate health and even decrease students’ academic and clinical performance, affecting their future professional roles.…”

How Emerging Adults Perceive Elements of Nature as Resources for Wellbeing: A Qualitative Photo-Elicitation Study

“…Likewise, participants were not offered any formal definition of wellbeing and were advised that the focus was on their own views and experiences with no right or wrong answers. Participants were recruited via a larger survey about wellbeing and health-related lifestyle behaviours (the findings reported elsewhere [53]) where they had the opportunity to express interest in participating in PEI on their conceptions and experiences of wellbeing. Recruitment materials did not mention nature, and nor did the survey instrument include any questions about nature.…”