Basic habits and beliefs about health and illness among adolescents from Spain, Colombia and Mexico

Abstract

The present study analyzes health habits in food, exercise and health beliefs in a sample of nine hundred and fifty four adolescents, boys and girls (mean 12,36+/-2,06 years old) of different countries: Spain (321), Colombia (401) and Mexico (232). All participants responded to a questionnaire with items related to health habits as well as health and illness beliefs. Results indicated that 58\% of subjects show a risky food style, and 62,9\% of subjects show a risky physical activity. Comparisons among subjects of the three countries indicated that the Colombian sample had the worst food style while the spanish sample had the worst physical activity. Results also confirm that adolescence is a relevant moment in the formation of health and illness beliefs with 61\% and 54\% of subjects showing, respectively, an undefined pattern of beliefs or illness. Results show significant differences among the three countries.