Health Behavior and Associated Factors in Young Adult Cancer Patients
Objectives: Having cancer in young adulthood increases the risk of adverse long-term health effects. These risks can be influenced by one’s health behavior (HB). The aim of this study is therefore to investigate the presence of health behavior in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) and to identify a...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.697096/full |
| _version_ | 1819102793403727872 |
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| author | Isabelle Stroske Kristina Geue Michael Friedrich Annekathrin Sender Ricarda Schmidt Diana Richter Katja Leuteritz |
| author_facet | Isabelle Stroske Kristina Geue Michael Friedrich Annekathrin Sender Ricarda Schmidt Diana Richter Katja Leuteritz |
| author_sort | Isabelle Stroske |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives: Having cancer in young adulthood increases the risk of adverse long-term health effects. These risks can be influenced by one’s health behavior (HB). The aim of this study is therefore to investigate the presence of health behavior in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) and to identify associated factors.Design: Young cancer patients (18–39 years old at time of diagnosis) were surveyed at baseline and 12 months later via online or as a paper-pencil version.Methods: A spectrum of indicators for HB was assessed via seven items from the Questionnaire of Multiple Health Behavior (MHB). Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to determine factors associated with patients’ HB indicators.Results: Five-hundred and fourteen AYAs (75% women) reported the highest level of health-conscious behavior for “avoidance of consumption of nicotine,” “follow medical recommendations,” and “being considerate in road traffic.” Less health-conscious behavior was reported for “keeping an appropriate and balanced diet” and “physical activity.” Significant improvements from baseline to the follow-up were observed for “regularly attending health screening” (Hedges’ g = 0.44). The analyzed factors explained up to 10% of the HB indicators. Women reported significantly more health-conscious behavior than men in four out of seven HB indicators. Higher quality of life (QoL) was associated with more health behavior in three out of seven HB indicators.Conclusion: Findings show a predominantly health-conscious lifestyle in AYA cancer patients, though we also found harmful behavior which needs to be better approached—e.g., through improving AYAs’ health education. AYA men should be particularly targeted in specific prevention and health promotion measures. Future work should identify other factors associated with HB to evaluate targets for intervention. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T01:40:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2dcac41bd2534aaf986f97ba1756c0d5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T01:40:12Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-2dcac41bd2534aaf986f97ba1756c0d52022-12-21T18:43:16ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782021-09-011210.3389/fpsyg.2021.697096697096Health Behavior and Associated Factors in Young Adult Cancer PatientsIsabelle Stroske0Kristina Geue1Michael Friedrich2Annekathrin Sender3Ricarda Schmidt4Diana Richter5Katja Leuteritz6Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Leipzig, Leipzig, GermanyDepartment of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Leipzig, Leipzig, GermanyDepartment of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Leipzig, Leipzig, GermanyDepartment of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Leipzig, Leipzig, GermanyClinic and Polyclinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Leipzig, Leipzig, GermanyDepartment of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Leipzig, Leipzig, GermanyDepartment of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Leipzig, Leipzig, GermanyObjectives: Having cancer in young adulthood increases the risk of adverse long-term health effects. These risks can be influenced by one’s health behavior (HB). The aim of this study is therefore to investigate the presence of health behavior in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) and to identify associated factors.Design: Young cancer patients (18–39 years old at time of diagnosis) were surveyed at baseline and 12 months later via online or as a paper-pencil version.Methods: A spectrum of indicators for HB was assessed via seven items from the Questionnaire of Multiple Health Behavior (MHB). Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to determine factors associated with patients’ HB indicators.Results: Five-hundred and fourteen AYAs (75% women) reported the highest level of health-conscious behavior for “avoidance of consumption of nicotine,” “follow medical recommendations,” and “being considerate in road traffic.” Less health-conscious behavior was reported for “keeping an appropriate and balanced diet” and “physical activity.” Significant improvements from baseline to the follow-up were observed for “regularly attending health screening” (Hedges’ g = 0.44). The analyzed factors explained up to 10% of the HB indicators. Women reported significantly more health-conscious behavior than men in four out of seven HB indicators. Higher quality of life (QoL) was associated with more health behavior in three out of seven HB indicators.Conclusion: Findings show a predominantly health-conscious lifestyle in AYA cancer patients, though we also found harmful behavior which needs to be better approached—e.g., through improving AYAs’ health education. AYA men should be particularly targeted in specific prevention and health promotion measures. Future work should identify other factors associated with HB to evaluate targets for intervention.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.697096/fullcanceryounglifestyleadolescent and young adultshealth behavior |
| spellingShingle | Isabelle Stroske Kristina Geue Michael Friedrich Annekathrin Sender Ricarda Schmidt Diana Richter Katja Leuteritz Health Behavior and Associated Factors in Young Adult Cancer Patients Frontiers in Psychology cancer young lifestyle adolescent and young adults health behavior |
| title | Health Behavior and Associated Factors in Young Adult Cancer Patients |
| title_full | Health Behavior and Associated Factors in Young Adult Cancer Patients |
| title_fullStr | Health Behavior and Associated Factors in Young Adult Cancer Patients |
| title_full_unstemmed | Health Behavior and Associated Factors in Young Adult Cancer Patients |
| title_short | Health Behavior and Associated Factors in Young Adult Cancer Patients |
| title_sort | health behavior and associated factors in young adult cancer patients |
| topic | cancer young lifestyle adolescent and young adults health behavior |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.697096/full |
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