Identification and Prediction of Latent Classes of Health Promoting Behaviors among Children

Abstract

This study used latent class analysis to identify heterogeneous subgroups with respect to health promoting behaviors among children. Multiple dimensions assessing physical activity, eating and sedentary behaviors were explored. This study used wave 1(2014) data from the Seoul Education and Health Welfare Panel(SEHWP), which consists of 820 matched pairs of mother and their school-aged children living in Seoul. The final model yielded three latent classes of health promoting behaviors: ‘positive health promoting behaviors’, ‘high-risk health behaviors’, and ‘sedentary lifestyle & middle-risk health behaviors’. We also examined associations between latent classes and predictors to determine how the patterns of health promoting behaviors relates to sociodemographic factors and psychosocial factors. Results indicated that low-income, single parent families, low maternal education level, maternal employment, children’s gender and age, neglect experience, self-efficacy, and depression significantly predicted to the above latent classes. The study suggested that there is a significant heterogeneity in the patterns of health promoting behaviors among children. Based on these findings, health promotion and intervention programs for children will need to consider this heterogeneity and enhance attention to health promoting predictors depending on the subpopulation.