THE HEALTH BEHAVIOR OF NORTHERN FINNISH MEN IN ADOLESCENCE AND ADULTHOOD

The aim of the study was to produce data about health behaviour among men born in Northern Finland in 1966. A particular concern was to find out how well health behaviour in adolescence predicts health behaviou r in adulthood. The family questionnaire on health and development was submitted in 1980 when the subjects were 14 years of age. The respons e rate was 97%. The second questionnaire survey was carried out 10 yea rs later with 2500 respondents. The final response rate was 60%. The r esults indicated that health behaviour in adolescence predicted health behaviour in adulthood as far as smoking and physical exercise were c oncerned. Over half (65%) of those who were non-smokers in their youth did not smoke as adults. Similarly the majority (71%) of those who ha d taken physical exercise at least once a week in their youth continue d to do so in adulthood. Most of the subjects (85%) used alcohol in ad ulthood. A good family situation was connected with healthy habits. In the case of drinking, however, the subjects whose fathers belonged to social classes I-II used alcohol to a somewhat greater extent than ot hers. It is important to conceive of health behaviour as an element co nnected with a person's life situation. Health research should be inco rporated into cultural research and should have closer co-operation wi th other disciplines.