ADOLESCENTS PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR PEERS HEALTH NORMS

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to determine the relative im portance adolescents place on preventive health behaviors. Methods. Da ta were from a survey of California adolescents (n = 5040). Respondent s were asked how important it was to their peers to avoid drugs, marij uana, cigarettes, heavy drinking, and drinking and driving and to main tain seat belt use, fitness, weight control, and healthy eating habits . Results were compared with data from a similar national survey(n = 6 126). Results. California teenagers perceived that their peers gave to p priority to weight control: 85% of California teenagers believed tha t weight control was of high concern to girls in their age group. Avoi ding drugs, not drinking and driving, and maintaining fitness ranked i n the top five behaviors. The lowest ranked health behaviors were seat belt use, heavy drinking, and, last, eating healthily. In the nationa l survey, healthy eating also ranked last. Although not identical in r ank, teenage priorities for other health behaviors were consistent wit h the California results. Conclusion. Efforts are needed to bring adol escent health norms more into line with the objective risks of their h ealth choices during this critical period of socialization.