Influence of life habits and behaviors on the health of adolescents

Abstract

Objetivo: identificar la influencia de los hábitos de vida y comportamientos de los adolescentes en su salud.

Materiales y método: investigación cuantitativa, con un enfoque exploratorio y descriptivo, desarrollada con 124 adolescentes, estudiantes de una escuela preuniversitaria en el extremo sur de Brasil. Los datos se recolectaron mediante cuestionario. El análisis se realizó con la utilización de estadísticas descriptivas con el software SPSS, versión 20.0.

Resultados: el alto consumo de alimentos ultraprocesados en las comidas intermedias y la cantidad insuficiente de sueño por noche representan riesgos para la salud de los adolescentes. La realización de actividades físicas resultó ser un hábito de protección de la salud.

Objective: To identify the influence of life habits and behaviors on the health of adolescents. Materials and method: This is a quantitative research, with an exploratory and descriptive approach, developed with 124 adolescents, students from a pre-professional school in southernmost Brazil. Data was collected by means of a questionnaire. The analysis was performed using descriptive statistics by means of the SPSS software, version 20.0. Results: The high consumption of ultra-processed food in intermediate meals and insufficient sleep hours per night cause risks to the health of adolescents. Practicing physical activities has proved to be a health protection habit. Conclusions: The adolescents need to reframe the importance of healthy eating and sleep in their routine. It was observed that there are modifiable factors for sleep improvement in quality and quantity, as well as the value and inclusion of in natura food in intermediate meals. We believe that the role of nurses in school spaces, giving rise to joint reflections on the process of self-care, health concepts, risky and healthy behaviors, is capable of promoting and protecting the health of adolescents and preventing morbidities in the future.