In a research project undertaken by the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences along with the Gerontology Research Center, it was noted that health behaviours are interconnected. Individuals displaying minimal physical activity also tend to consume the most alcohol, with a notable percentage also indulging in smoking. Conversely, healthier behaviours displayed similar patterns of interrelation.
Our research takes a unique approach. Instead of examining smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity as isolated behaviours, we delve into the reality that individuals usually engage in multiple health behaviours at once. As Johanna Ahola, a doctoral researcher at the Gerontology Research Center and Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, explains, this approach provides a more comprehensive understanding of health behaviours.
The research tracked the same group of individuals aged 42 in 2001, 50 in 2009, and 61 during 2020–2021. It was observed that health behaviour patterns largely remain stable through middle adulthood, although the study period did reveal some notably positive changes.
The findings of our research align with those of previous studies, providing a reassuring consistency. It was particularly heartening to see favourable behaviour changes over the years surveyed. There was a significant reduction in smoking, which might be attributable not just to ageing but also to the broader social context at the time. This suggests that as diseases become more common in middle adulthood, a greater emphasis on general health precautions and health-related objectives takes precedence, thus influencing behavioural adjustments.
The study also highlighted that sociodemographic factors influence health behaviour patterns. Women, married individuals, degree holders, and white-collar professionals tended to exhibit healthier behaviours. Moreover, personality traits such as higher levels of conscientiousness, openness, and agreeableness and lower levels of neuroticism and extraversion were also indicative of healthier behavioural choices.
“Integrating personality traits into the analysis of health behaviour patterns offered a fresh perspective compared to earlier studies,” Ahola added. “Previous observations have shown that highly extroverted individuals are generally more active physically. However, it was surprising to find in our study that lower levels of extraversion were associated with healthier behaviours, providing an intriguing insight for researchers in physical activity.”
More information: Johanna Ahola et al, Stability in health behavior patterns in middle adulthood: a 19-year follow-up study, Psychology and Health. DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2024.2316676
Journal information: Psychology and Health Provided by University of Jyväskylä
