Publication date: 15 Nov 2023
What is already known about this subject:
- Young adulthood represents a key life transition during which lasting health behaviours are likely to be formed. Health behaviours are most often considered in isolation, even though they often co-occur on a daily basis. Further, we have little understanding of how several health behaviours cluster within individuals; and how different clusters affect health synergistically. The primary aim of the present study was to identify profiles of health behaviour patterns in young adults, and examine differences between these profiles on physical and mental health outcomes. As a secondary aim, we explored how the profiles varied by socio-demographic characteristics (sex, relationship status and education).
What this study adds
- Participants (N=476) were young adults (M age = 22.07; SD=.57) from Generation 2 of the Raine Study longitudinal cohort. Health behaviours were measured via ActiGraph GT3X waist monitors (physical activity, sedentary behaviour) and questionnaires (diet quality, alcohol, smoking and sleep). Physical and mental health outcomes were measured using a combination of objective clinical health assessments, blood biomarkers, and questionnaires. Four latent profiles were identified: ‘heavy drinkers with moderately unhealthy eating habits’, ‘unhealthy food abstainers’, ‘moderately sedentary alcohol abstainers’ and ‘physically active drinkers with unhealthy eating habits’. ‘Physically active drinkers with unhealthy eating habits’ had the greatest number of poor health outcomes (on adiposity-related outcomes, perceived health, systolic blood pressure, depression and anxiety), yet the lowest insulin resistance. ‘Unhealthy food abstainers’ had the greatest number of favourable health outcomes. Sex was the only socio-demographic characteristic that differed among the profiles. If our results reflect some causality, public health messages could target the avoidance of fast food in young males in particular. High levels of physical activity and low sedentary behaviour may serve a protective role against insulin resistance.