Adolescents' health-related behaviors in the light of their value orientations.

This study examines the relationship between adolescents' health behaviors and their value orientations. Data were collected among a sample of Hungarian urban high school students (n = 602, aged 14-19; 52.8% males and 47.2% females) in 2001. Factor analysis revealed fitness-oriented, health and social value oriented, and accomplishment/career oriented value factors. Health and social values were more common among girls, while accomplishment-oriented values were more common among boys. The fitness-oriented value orientation was related to physical activity and diet control, health and social value orientation showed significant association with diet control and the lack of smoking, alcohol and drug use, accomplishment oriented values were related to higher levels of substance use.