The prediction of health-related behaviour in elementary school children

Abstract

This study investigates the importance of psychological concepts with regard to health-related behaviour in elementary school children based on self-report data of 802 second- and fourth-graders. The results show significant relations of self-efficacy and the choice of appropriate coping strategies to positive health-related behaviours. The amount of stress experiences (measured by the Youth Self-Report) is associated to health-risky behaviours for the total sample and for the gender subgroups, while the other predictor variables show inconsistent relations for different subgroups. The significance of the results for health-promotion during early developmental stages is discussed.