Life transitions and relevance of healthy living in late adolescence. (June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Koehn, Stefan; Gillison, Fiona; Standage, Martyn; Bailey, Jacqueline
• Is Part Of: Journal of health psychology. Volume 21:Number 6(2016:Jun.)
• Page Start: 1085
• Page End: 1095
• Publication Date: 2016-06
• Subjects: adolescence -- diet -- eating behaviour -- exercise behaviour -- lifestyle; Clinical health psychology -- Periodicals; 613.019
• DOI: 10.1177/1359105314546340
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-1053

Abstract

Using a cross-sectional qualitative design involving focus groups and interviews, we sought to gain a more detailed understanding of adolescents' physical activity, eating habits and health perceptions during the transition from secondary school (or high school) to work. Based on thematic analyses, three themes were extracted: (1) perceptions of lifestyle and health, (2) changes in priorities and (3) passive acceptance of internal and external influences on physical activity and diet. Poor diet and physical inactivity appeared to reflect participants' amotivation towards health behaviours, reluctance to divert from perceived peer norms and efforts to assert independence from parents.