Socioeconomic status (SES) and health risk behavior : the role of social rhythm

Abstract

This study examines the prevalence of health risk behaviors among college students in Hong Kong and its relationship with family SES, social rhythm, and psychological wellbeing. Objectives: The aim of this research is to investigate the relationships between SES, social rhythm, psychological well-being, and health risk behavior, and the role of social rhythm and psychological well-being in explaining the impact of SES on health risk behavior. Methods: Participants were 295 Hong Kong university students (70.8% female) who filled out a four-part questionnaire: demographic characteristics (including family SES level), 10- item Brief Social Rhythm Scale (BSRS; Margraf, Lavallee, Zhang, & Schneider, 2016), 15- item PERMA-Profiler (Butler & Kern, 2016), and a set of health risk behaviors questionnaires to assess the health risk behaviors of smoking, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and unhealthy diet. Results: Results showed that 1) the prevalence of physical inactivity and unhealthy diet was the highest among college students, 2) social rhythm regularity was significantly associated with the amount of health risk behavior an individual engaged in, 3) housing tenure and social rhythm were significantly associated with psychological well-being. Conclusion: This study found no significant association between SES and health risk behaviors. Consequently, social rhythm and psychological well-being did not significantly mediate this relationship. However, the findings underscore the prevalence of multiple health risk behaviors among college students in Hong Kong and highlight the important role of social rhythm. Additionally, a notable association between housing tenure and psychological well-being was observed.