Interrelationships of Health Related Behaviors among Young Adults

Obesity and smoking continue to be some of the nation’s top health concerns. This study explored the interrelationships among exercise, nutrition and smoking behaviors among young college adults. Undergraduate psychology students (N=612) completed an internet survey that included measures of exercise, nutrition and smoking behaviors. Analyses revealed that more males were exercising while more females were eating nutritiously. The Transtheoretical Model constructs stage of change for exercise and eating nutritiously were significantly related. There were no significant differences found for smoking behavior across the stages of change for exercise or nutrition. Health professionals and researchers should not assume that regular exercise is associated with a non-smoking status or that a non-smoking status is associated with consuming a more nutritious diet. Further research and intervention is strongly urged targeted towards both men and women among the young college adult population.