International Journal of Public Health
Volume 57, Issue 2, 2012, Pages 351-361

Clustering of health and risk behaviour in immigrant and indigenous Dutch residents aged 19-40 years (Article) (Open Access)

Reijneveld S.A.* , Van Nieuwenhuijzen M. , Velderman M.K. , Paulussen T.W.G.M. , Junger M.
  • a Department of Health Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, PO Box 196, 9700 AD Groningen, Netherlands, TNO (Netherlands Organisation of Applied Scientific Research) Quality of Life, Leiden, Netherlands
  • b Department of Clinical Child and Family Studies and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • c TNO (Netherlands Organisation of Applied Scientific Research) Quality of Life, Leiden, Netherlands
  • d TNO (Netherlands Organisation of Applied Scientific Research) Quality of Life, Leiden, Netherlands
  • e Department of Social Risks and Safety Studies, University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands

Abstract

Objectives Studies on the co-occurrence, 'clustering' of health and other risk behaviours among immigrants from non-industrialised countries lack until now. The aim of this study was to compare this clustering in immigrant and indigenous adults. Methods A representative sample (N = 2,982; response 71%) of the Dutch population aged 19-40, with 247 respondents from non-industrialized countries (Turkey, Morocco, Surinam, Netherlands Antilles), was asked about health behaviours (alcohol, smoking, drugs, unsafe sex, exercise, nutrition, sleep behaviour, traffic behaviour), and about rule-breaking behaviour and aggression. Data were collected using internet questionnaires, which excluded respondents unable to read Dutch. Results Among indigenous adults, health and risk behaviours co-occur in three clusters (alcohol, health-enhancing behaviour, and rule-breaking behaviour), whereas among immigrant groups two clusters were found (alcohol and rulebreaking behaviour/smoking). Differences mostly concerned health-enhancing behaviours such as nutrition, which was not part of any cluster, and physical activity. Conclusions This supports an integrated promotion of healthier lifestyles to immigrants who are able to read Dutch. Regarding potentially risky behaviours like alcohol use and rule-breaking behaviours, this could be similar to that for indigenous people. © The Author(s) 2012.

Author Keywords

Health behaviours Delinquency Clustering Minority groups Immigration

Index Keywords

Netherlands Alcohol Drinking drinking behavior psychological aspect human Health Behavior statistics diet ethnology Young Adult Humans male Emigrants and Immigrants female questionnaire Article high risk behavior Risk-Taking Questionnaires adult migration Motor Activity
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84863775725&doi=10.1007%2fs00038-012-0350-4&partnerID=40&md5=085619195f8f1db2cffe86fe4fb37f57
DOI: 10.1007/s00038-012-0350-4
ISSN: 16618556
Cited by: 10
Original Language: English