Health-Related Behaviour in Adolescents Who Have Received Basic Instruction in Health Promotion

Abstract

Introduction: Both positive and risky health behaviours among adolescents are of paramount importance as they often pathway further lifestyles and determine future health outcomes. The paper focuses on the trends of health promotion activities and health risks among adolescents who have been instructed on these topics at secondary schools. The aim: to detect trends in pro-active health behaviour and risk taking activities of Ukrainian adolescents in the last 14 years. Materials and methods: males and females, aged 15-17, who studied in secondary schools of the urban area of Vinnytsia city, Ukraine, in the years 2003, 2013, 2017, anonymously filled in the 118-item questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, Cochran Q test, Spearman correlation analysis, Kendall’s tau coefficient were used to analyze the data. Results: Overall, the data about health related issues obtained in the year 2003 vary significantly from the years 2013 and 2017, which indicates some beneficial influence that has taken place since 2003. Much fewer differences were spotted between the years 2013 and 2017. Health related behaviours in females showed less significant dynamics and some changes indicate regression, while males reported multiple improved results. Meanwhile actual numbers of males who opted for risky behaviours were higher than those of females. Significant relationships were found between some socio-economic factors, positive health behaviours (sufficient sleep, physical activity, daily regime, and life satisfaction) and proactive health choices. Conclusions: The available data suggests that there was a beneficial health-related influence on the schoolchildren over the years 2003-2017. Our findings also support the view that certain assets may protect the youth from risk-taking behaviours.

Modern Approaches to the Screening Assessment of the Degree of the Risk of Prenosological Disorders in the State of Mental Health of School-Age Pupils in the Context of Analysis of Behavioral Aspects of Public Health

“…Currently, scientists have developed various methods to determine prenosological changes in health in general and mental health in particular, namely methods: screening-testing of health of school-age pupils, screening-assessment of the introduction of health-promoting innovations in educational institutions of various profiles, clinically defined mental health monitoring [3,4,[17][18][19][20]. Each of them has undeniable advantages and prospects for further application, but also, unfortunately, specific disadvantages.…”