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EVALUATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF THE HABITS OF ADULTS ON THEIR CHILDREN

Title.

Association of smoking and drinking and practicing sports between parents and their children. A population study.

Background.

It is commonly assumed that parents' habits have an influence of some kind (attraction or rejection) on their children. However, there is little scientific evidence demonstrating and quantifying this fact.

With the aim of studying the prevalence of back pain in adolescents, and the factors associated with a greater risk of suffering it, the Kovacs Foundation had earlier carried out a wide epidemiological study which included adolescents between 13 and 15 years old and their parents. In that study, and by means of research methods whose reliability has already been validated, the drinking and smoking habits, and sports activities of the adolescents and of their parents were gathered, among other aspects.

Objectives.

To determine the association between parents and their children in terms of habits (drinking, smoking and practicing sports).

Methodology.

It was a study of association in which, from the data collected in the previous population study , the association between the habits of the parents and of the children (in regard to smoking, drinking and practicing sports) was analyzed, including as potential variables of confusion the number of hours watching television daily, gender and academic performance.

Participants, along with the Foundation's Science Department.

Office of the Presidency and Sports, Departments of Education and Culture, and of Health and Consumer Services of the Government of the Balearic Islands.

The study was co-funded by the Kovacs Foundation and the General Office on Minors and the Family, Office of the Presidency and Sports of the Government of the Balearic Islands.

Status.

The study to validate the reliability of the research methods used in the present study of association has been published.. Eur J Public Health 1999;9(3):194-9.

Data collection has been completed and is currently being analyzed.