Jeffries Jayne K, Lytle Leslie, Sotres-Alvarez Daniela, Golden Shelley, Aiello Allison E, Linnan Laura
IDEO, Design Researcher, San Francisco, CA.
UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC.
Am J Health Behav. 2018 Mar 1;42(2):71-84. doi: 10.5993/AJHB.42.2.7.
To address chronic disease risk holistically from a behavioral perspective, insights are needed to refine understanding of the covariance of key health behaviors. This study aims to identify distinct typologies of young adults based on 4 modifiable risk factors of chronic disease using a latent class analysis approach, and to describe patterns of class membership based on demographic characteristics, living arrangements, and weight.
Overall, 441 young adults aged 18-35 attending community colleges in the Minnesota Twin Cities area completed a baseline questionnaire for the Choosing Healthy Options in College Environments and Settings study, a RCT. Behavioral items were used to create indicators for latent classes, and individuals were classified using maximum-probability assignment.
Three latent classes were identified: 'active, binge-drinkers with a healthy dietary intake' (13.1%); 'non-active, moderate-smokers and non-drinkers with poor dietary intake' (38.2%); 'moderately active, non-smokers and non-drinkers with moderately healthy dietary intake' (48.7%). Classes exhibited unique demographic and weight-related profiles.
This study may contribute to the literature on health behaviors among young adults and provides evidence that there are weight and age differences among subgroups. Understanding how behaviors cluster is important for identifying groups for targeted interventions in community colleges.
从行为学角度全面应对慢性病风险，需要深入了解关键健康行为的协方差，以完善相关认识。本研究旨在采用潜在类别分析方法，基于4种可改变的慢性病风险因素识别年轻成年人的不同类型，并根据人口统计学特征、生活安排和体重描述类别归属模式。
总体而言，明尼苏达双城地区441名年龄在18 - 35岁的社区学院学生完成了一项名为“在大学环境中选择健康选项”的随机对照试验研究的基线调查问卷。行为项目用于创建潜在类别的指标，并使用最大概率分配法对个体进行分类。
识别出三个潜在类别：“积极、有暴饮暴食行为且饮食摄入健康”（13.1%）；“不积极、中度吸烟者和不饮酒者且饮食摄入不良”（38.2%）；“中度活跃、不吸烟者和不饮酒者且饮食摄入适度健康”（48.7%）。各类别呈现出独特的人口统计学和体重相关特征。
本研究可能为有关年轻成年人健康行为的文献做出贡献，并提供证据表明亚组之间存在体重和年龄差异。了解行为如何聚类对于识别社区学院中需要进行针对性干预的群体很重要。
