PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between role model presence, type of role model, and various health-risk and health-protective behaviors among California adolescents. METHODS: We used cross-sectional data on 4,010 multiethnic adolescents aged 12-17 years from the 2003 California Health Interview Survey, a population-based random-digit dial telephone survey of more than 40,000 California households. The survey, conducted every other year since 2001, collects extensive demographic, health, and health-related information. RESULTS: Fifty-nine percent of adolescents identified a role model. Affluent teens were more likely to have a role model than lower income teens. Role models were generally of the same ethnicity and gender as the teens; ethnic congruence was higher among African Americans and whites than Latinos and Asians; gender congruence was higher among males. Type of role model was significantly associated with health-related behaviors. Identification of a teacher was strongly associated with positive health behaviors. Correlations with health-promoting behaviors were generally smaller in magnitude but consistently positive among family member and athlete role models. Peer or entertainer role models were associated with health-risk behaviors. CONCLUSION: Not only role model presence but also the type of role model is an important predictor of adolescent health-related behaviors. Our findings have implications for designing youth targeted interventions and policies involving role models.
PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between role model presence, type of role model, and various health-risk and health-protective behaviors among California adolescents. METHODS: We used cross-sectional data on 4,010 multiethnic adolescents aged 12-17 years from the 2003 California Health Interview Survey, a population-based random-digit dial telephone survey of more than 40,000 California households. The survey, conducted every other year since 2001, collects extensive demographic, health, and health-related information. RESULTS: Fifty-nine percent of adolescents identified a role model. Affluent teens were more likely to have a role model than lower income teens. Role models were generally of the same ethnicity and gender as the teens; ethnic congruence was higher among African Americans and whites than Latinos and Asians; gender congruence was higher among males. Type of role model was significantly associated with health-related behaviors. Identification of a teacher was strongly associated with positive health behaviors. Correlations with health-promoting behaviors were generally smaller in magnitude but consistently positive among family member and athlete role models. Peer or entertainer role models were associated with health-risk behaviors. CONCLUSION: Not only role model presence but also the type of role model is an important predictor of adolescent health-related behaviors. Our findings have implications for designing youth targeted interventions and policies involving role models.
Authors: Teresa Tamayo; David R Jacobs; Klaus Strassburger; Guido Giani; Teresa E Seeman; Karen Matthews; Jeffrey M Roseman; Wolfgang Rathmann Journal: Eur J Epidemiol Date: 2012-05-08 Impact factor: 8.082
Authors: Lee Strunin; Alejandro Díaz-Martínez; L Rosa Díaz-Martínez; Seth Kuranz; Carlos A Hernández-Ávila; Caroline E Pantridge; Héctor Fernández-Varela Journal: Health Educ Res Date: 2015-08
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