LIFE-STYLE VALUES OF ADOLESCENTS - RESULTS FROM MINNESOTA-HEART-HEALTH-YOUTH-PROGRAM

As a part of the Minnesota Heart Health Program (MHHP), a seven-year c ohort study of adolescents in two different communities was conducted. A school-based intervention was implemented in one of the communities which addressed aspects of cardiovascular health promotion and risk-f actor prevention. This paper focuses on changes in the adolescents' va lues and the importance of their behaviors and lifestyle patterns over the study period. Physical appearance was found to be the most valued characteristic of adolescents in both communities, the only value whi ch grew in importance over time. The least valued behavior was the amo unt of TV they were allowed to watch. Students who participated in the intervention community tended to retain their positive values about p hysical exercise, whereas the reference community demonstrated gradual reductions. Girls in the intervention community tended to value the k inds of food they eat to a greater extent than did girls in the refere nce group. The study data might contribute to the search for more mean ingful incentives in future preventive programs.