Factors predicting health behaviour

Smoking, heavy drinking, and weight changes are consequences of vulnerable health behaviour. Factors predicting adverse changes in health behaviour are not well known. We monitored the workers of a wood-processing factory who were given notice simultaneously and a matched group of employed factory workers for 1 year. Health behaviour was considered vulnerable if the responder reported increased smoking or alcohol consumption or if the responder's weight had changed by at least 2 kg during follow-up. At least two of the above three changes were required for inclusion in the vulnerable health behaviour group. Vulnerable health behaviour change was observed in 26.6% of the unemployed and in 13.7% of the employed (P = 0.009). Vulnerable health behaviour change was not associated with sociodemographic background variables (age, sex, education, financial status, social support) in either of the groups. In univariate analysis high psychic stress levels reported at the beginning of follow-up by both employed and unemployed persons were predictive of vulnerable health behaviour. In the unemployed, abundant psychosomatic symptoms also predicted vulnerable health behaviour change. In logistic regression analysis vulnerable health behaviour change was predicted in the whole sample by the base-line psychic stress level and marital status other than marriage/cohabitation. To summarize, the most interesting observation in our study was that psychic stress was a risk factor for health behaviour harmful to physical health. Thus, attention should be paid to the functional connection between mind and body to better maintain total well-being. Additionally, persons living alone are a risk group for vulnerable health behaviour.