The Influence of Perceived Familial Emotional Support in Childhood on Adult Health-Related Behaviors

46 COPYRIGHT 2013 BY PSI CHI, THE INTERNATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY IN PSYCHOLOGY (VOL. 18, NO. 2/ISSN 2164-8204) *Faculty mentor According to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2011), the U.S. population’s life expectancy increased an average of two years from 2000 to 2009. Specifically, men’s life expectancy changed from 74 years in 2000 to 76 years in 2009, while women’s life expectancy increased from 80 years in 2000 to 81 years in 2009 (WHO, 2011). Along with this increase in life expectancy (i.e., mortality), prevalence rates of chronic diseases (i.e., morbidity) have also escalated. For example, during the last 20 years, diabetes prevalence rates have increased from 8% in 1988–1994 to 11% in 2005–2008 with a noticeable increase among children and adolescents. Obesity and being overweight have escalated; that is, from the total U.S. population in 2007, about two-thirds of adults were obese or overweight. Obese individuals are at a higher risk of developing heart disease, cancers, and having strokes. Risk factors for developing diabetes and obesity include diet and inadequate physical activity (National Center for Health Statistics, 2010). Morbidity and mortality rates are influenced by a variety of healthrelated behaviors that an individual can engage in, including health-preventing, health-promoting, and health-harming behaviors. Health-preventing behaviors are behaviors intended to prevent disease or injury (e.g., physical activity). Health-promoting behaviors are behaviors undertaken to enhance or maintain health (e.g., healthy diet). Health-harming behaviors are behaviors that undermine or harm current or future health (e.g., cigarette smoking; Taylor, 2009a). In the United States, cigarette smoking is related to many preventable diseases and it is responsible for at least 20% of all cancer deaths (American Lung Association, 2011; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2007). Although people are aware of the risks involved in cigarette smoking, it is still a common practice among the U.S. population. Most ABSTRACT. The current study aimed to examine the role of self-efficacy, perceived familial emotional support in childhood, and culture (e.g., collectivism) in predicting health-related behaviors (preventing, promoting, and harming) of college students. A total of 297 (228 women) undergraduate students completed a questionnaire assessing their health-related behaviors, self-efficacy, perceived familial emotional support, and culture. Regression analyses were used to test multiple hypotheses—most of which were supported. Self-efficacy was related to health-related behaviors (all p s < .05). Perceived familial emotional support was related to higher self-efficacy, which was predictive of health-related behaviors above and beyond perceived familial emotional support (all p s < .05). Collectivism was related to higher levels of perceived familial emotional support, which was predictive of health-related behaviors above and beyond collectivism (all p s < .05). A theoretical model is proposed which suggests that collectivism serves as the context to perceive high levels of familial emotional support during childhood, which helps build a strong sense of self-efficacy leading individuals to engage in healthier behaviors. The Influence of Perceived Familial Emotional Support in Childhood on Adult Health-Related Behaviors