The Association of Well-Being with Health Risk Behaviors in College-Attending Young Adults.

Seth J. Schwartz, Alan S. Waterman, Alexander T. Vazsonyi, Byron L. Zamboanga, Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Robert S. Weisskirch, Michael Vernon, S. Jean Caraway, Su Yeong Kim, Larry F. Forthun, M. Brent Donnellan, Lindsay S. Ham

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The present study investigated the associations of well-being with engagement in illicit drug use, sexual risk taking, and impaired driving in a sample of 9,515 students from 30 U.S. colleges and universities. Participants completed measures of subjective well-being, psychological well-being, and eudaimonic well-being, and indicated how many times in the past 30 days that they had engaged in several illicit drug use, sexual risk, and impaired driving behaviors. Findings indicated that well-being was negatively associated with incidence of illicit drug use and some sexual risk behaviors, but not with incidence of drunk/drugged driving or riding with an impaired driver. Well-being was negatively related to frequency of casual sex, sex while drunk/high, drunk/drugged driving, and riding with an impaired driver. Associations of well-being were strongest for more dangerous types of drug use and sexual behavior and for riding with an impaired driver. Results are discussed in terms of implications for research and intervention development.
Original languageAmerican English
JournalApplied Developmental Science
Volume15
DOIs
StatePublished - 2011

Disciplines

  • Psychiatry
  • Psychology

Cite this