Multiple health behaviours among mothers and partners in England: Clustering, social patterning and intra-couple concordance

Abstract

Research on multiple health behaviours is increasing but little is known about parental behaviours and how they covary. Our study investigates cigarette smoking, alcohol intake, fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption and physical activity among mothers and co-resident partners in England. Using the UK Household Longitudinal Study, we examined (i) clustering of health behaviours using observed-expected ratios and latent class analysis (ii) socio-demographic correlates of the derived latent classes and (iii) intra-couple concordance of individual health behaviours and their latent classes. We identified five latent classes for mothers and partners: Never smoked drinkers (28% of mothers; 29% of partners), Abstainers (25%; 17%), Drinkers and ex-smokers (19%; 26%), Unhealthy low frequency drinkers (18%; 16%) and Unhealthiest behaviour group (11%; 12%). These had distinctive social profiles. Never smoked drinkers were more likely than those in other groups to be white and socially advantaged: married, older, and with higher educational qualifications and incomes. Abstainers were non-smokers who never or occasionally drank, and were disproportionately drawn from ethnic minority groups and middle/lower income families. Drinkers and ex-smokers were the most physically active group and were more likely to be socially advantaged. Unhealthy low frequency drinkers were more likely to be disadvantaged and have a limiting long-standing illness. The Unhealthiest behaviour group had the highest proportion of smokers, heavy smokers and binge drinkers and the lowest F&V intake and physical activity levels. They were largely white and socially disadvantaged: younger, non-married and with lower educational levels. Mothers and their partners typically shared the same risk behaviours, and 44 per cent of partners and mothers belonged to the same latent class. Our findings point to the potential for a broadening of research and policy perspectives, from separate behaviours to combinations of behaviours, and from individuals to the domestic units and communities of which they are part.

The stability of health-related behaviour clustering during mid-adulthood and the influence of social circumstances on health-related behaviour change

“…smoke-free legislation implemented in 2007 (52)) within a different social context. However, similarities in HRB cluster patterns in this cohort when compared to other studies using more recent data (53,54) indicate that these HRB clusters remain relevant. For example, both of these studies and our results have identified a cluster (which we labelled 'Risky') characterised by heavy smoking and alcohol consumption and lower intakes of fruit and vegetables and levels (20).…”

Physical Activity, Screen Time, and Dietary Intake in Families: A Cluster-Analysis With Mother-Father-Child Triads

“…However, a systematic review found that 81% of the identified studies reported a “healthy” cluster ( 3 ). Graham et al ( 74 ) examined clustering of fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol intake of mothers and their partners in England and found “unhealthy” patterns for both mothers and their partner. In addition, they analyzed the concordance of behavioral patterns of mothers and their partners and found a high degree of inter-couple concordance in health behaviors.…”

The Same or Different? Convergence of Skin Gambling and Other Gambling Among Children

“…All p values cited in the tables relate to this type of statistical testing. Following Graham et al (2014), observed-expected ratios were computed to assess the extent to which skin gambling and other forms of gambling cluster together. Observed-expected ratios are interpreted relative to their confidence intervals.…”