Association of perceived family criticism with health behaviors

BACKGROUND. Criticism from family members has been implicated in psychiatri c illnesses such as schizophrenia, depression, and eating disorders. Percei ved family criticism has also been linked to primary health care use. In ou r study, we examined the association between perceived family criticism and health behaviors, as well as the potential mediating role of negative affe ct. METHODS. A questionnaire was mailed to patients receiving care at a family medicine center. Perceived family criticism was measured using the Family E motional Involvement and Perceived Criticism Scale. Diet, regular exercise, smoking status, and levels of depression, hostility, and physical health w ere also assessed through self report. RESULTS. Nine hundred twenty-two (62%) active family medicine patients resp onded to our questionnaire. Complete data were available for 875 patients. In univariate analysis, a high level of perceived family criticism was asso ciated with various demographic characteristics, poorer physical health, ne gative affect, higher fat intake, lack of exercise, and smoking. In multiva riate analysis, the association between a high level of perceived criticism and health behavior was independent of demographic characteristics and phy sical health, for example, high-fat diet (odds ratio [OR] = 1.47; 95% confi dence interval [CI], 1.11 - 1.95), no regular exercise (OR = 1.37; 95% CI, 1.02 - 1.84) and current smoking (OR = 1.38; 95% CI, 1.00 - 1.90). None of these associations was statistically significant after controlling for depr ession and hostility. CONCLUSIONS. A high level of perceived family criticism is associated with adverse health behaviors. This association appears to be explained by resul tant depression and hostility.