Abstract

Health-Risk-Behaviors (HRBs) are significant antecedent conditions of adolescents’ poor health and mortality. Prevention of avoidable adverse health outcomes requires an in-depth understanding of the factors associated with such outcomes. Among other possible pathways, the ‘Neuroticism- HRBs-adverse health’ link has been supported in previous studies. However, more extensive exploration of this link is required to identify the underlying modifiable risk factors. In the present study, one such factor, namely, emotion regulation difficulties, was explored to see its mediating effect in the relationship between neuroticism and HRBs—the first two constructs of the mentioned link. In this quantitative study, a total of 759 adolescents belonging to the Indian state of Punjab (Males= 402; M(age)=16.08) provided relevant information on a set of standardized questionnaires. Mediation analysis supported the major hypothesis of the present study. The results suggest that emotion regulation difficulty may be a significant mediator in the neuroticism-HRBs link. One’s difficulty in regulating emotions might be an underlying mechanism through which high neuroticism increases the probability of indulging in HRBs, resulting in adverse health outcomes. The study implies that the assessment of emotion regulation difficulties should be included in interventional programs aimed at achieving adolescents’ wellbeing, and early intervention may avoid progression toward adverse health outcomes in adulthood.

摘要

健康风险行为 (HRB) 是青少年健康状况不佳和死亡的重要先决条件。预防可避免的不良健康结果需要深入了解与此类结果相关的因素。在其他可能的途径中，以前的研究支持“神经质-HRB-不利健康”的联系。然而，需要对这一联系进行更广泛的探索，以确定潜在的可改变风险因素。在本研究中，探索了其中一个因素，即情绪调节困难，以了解其在神经质和 HRB 之间的关系中的中介作用——上述链接的前两个结构。在这项定量研究中，共有 759 名属于印度旁遮普邦的青少年（男性 = 402；M(age)=16.08) 提供了一组标准化问卷的相关信息。中介分析支持本研究的主要假设。结果表明，情绪调节困难可能是神经质-HRB链接中的重要中介。一个人难以调节情绪可能是一种潜在的机制，通过这种机制，高度神经质会增加沉迷于 HRB 的可能性，从而导致不良的健康结果。该研究表明，情绪调节困难的评估应纳入旨在实现青少年福祉的干预计划中，早期干预可避免在成年期向不良健康结果发展。