Es. Ford et al., Social relationships and cardiovascular disease risk factors: Findings from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, PREV MED, 30(2), 2000, pp. 83-92
Objective. Our aim was to study the associations between social relationshi
ps and several health behaviors in a national sample of the U.S. population
.
Methods. Using data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey I
II, which was conducted from 1988 to 1994, we examined the associations bet
ween the frequencies of organizational and individual relationships (derive
d from factor analysis) and cigarette smoking, not having had a blood press
ure check during the preceding 12 months, not having had a cholesterol chec
k, not engaging in physical activity, and eating fruits and vegetables fewe
r than five times per day among men and women aged 18 years and older.
Results. After adjusting for age, sex, race, educational attainment, marita
l status, and employment status, increases in organizational relationships
were associated with decreases in all five behaviors: significant inverse l
inear trends were noted only for smoking and physical activity. For individ
ual relationships, significant inverse linear trends were noted for not hav
ing a blood pressure check within the previous 12 months, not having had a
cholesterol check, and inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption. For phys
ical inactivity, the shape of the relationship approximated a threshold res
ponse. For smoking, a significant positive linear trend was present.
Conclusions. These results support findings from previous studies and indic
ate that social relationships have a beneficial effect on several behaviors
that directly or indirectly affect the risk of cardiovascular disease. (C)
2000 American Health Foundation and Academic Press.