| Abstract |
Introduction: The health levels of an individual are quite a factor-based situation defined by a wider frame around its life. Health literacy is a significant variable determinant of health behaviors, as well as cardiovascular disease prevention. Focusing on variable risk factors, behavioral models adopted during adolescent and teenage life seems to follow the individual throughout its adult life. An equally significant factor for family health also seems to be family cohesion, interpreted through the sentimental bonding and support of its members.
Aim: of the present work is to investigate the health literacy and family cohesion in relation to selected cardiovascular disease identifiers.
Method: A cross-sectional study conducted in the 4th Local Health Services of Heraklion. The sample of this study, included 44 individuals, namely 65,9% women and 34,1% men, with an average of 43,6 ±5,1 years of age for women and 46,8 ±4,5 years for men, all of them being parents of teenagers between the ages 12-18 (44) teenage boys 50% and teenage girls 50%, with an average of 14,6 ± 1,5 years of age.
The research tools used in this survey, include a specially designed questionnaire for recording of socio-demographic characteristics, as well as the family structure, educational and financial status (level) of the parents, as well as somatometrical (body) features and medical record (of both parents and children).
For purposes of family lifestyle register, the following were used: the valuation index of practicing a Meditarranean Diet (MedDietScore), as well as parameters which define parents’ physical activity levels and other habits such as smoking or alcohol consumption. For purposes of evaluation of children’s lifestyle, parameters describing some daily activities, such as physical activity, including sleep duration, were analyzed.
The Health Literacy Level on health matters was estimated through the short version of a Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLS) - EU 16, weighed in Greek. The evaluation of cohesion and adaptability of the family (Family Adaptation and Cohesion Evaluation) was estimated via also in Greek language weighed FACES IV scales.
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In order to assess health conducts and factors affected by, each parent stated the characteristics and conducts that affect their own health, their spouses or their children’s.
Results - Outcome: The increased family rigidity level was found to be highly related to the increased BMI (Body Mass Index) of the children (rho=0.530, p<0.05) and less with increased children’s morbidity (rho=0.406, p<0.05).
Μorbidity levels of the mother seem to have a serious impact on high morbidity levels of the children (rho=0.308, p<0.05) accompanied by a diminished organizing activity (hours/week) (rho=0.359, p<0.05), whereas the multiple Behavioral Risk Factors of the Father (BRF) was found to be highly associated to an extended long-hour sedentary lifestyle of the children (rho=0.297, p<0.05).
The older age of the father was related to a small probability for an increased presence of behavioral risk factors (OR=0,63,CI 95%.0,42-0,94...p=0,024), in contrast to the mother’s age which seems to highly affect the adoption of BRF (OR=2,08,CI 95%.1,10-3,91, p=0,023). Also, a higher educational status of the father seems to relate less to an increased BRF presence (OR- 0,12, CI 95% 0,02-0,67, p=0,015). Health literacy relates less as a serious factor of adopting more BRF (OR=0,4), 95% p=0,054).
Conclusions
Significant findings, regarding the cohesion and adaptability of the family, emerged from the present study. Family rigidity is associated with increased adolescent body mass index and family enmeshed with increased adolescent morbidity.
This study also found that paternal behavioral risk factor was associated with increased sedentary life in adolescents.
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