Lifestyle Behavior Change and Repeat Health Risk Appraisal Participation: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

Abstract

Purpose. Health risk appraisals (HRAs) have been used to address multiple health concerns and lifestyle behaviors. We explore the longitudinal relationship between emotional health, stage of change for five lifestyle behaviors, and lifestyle risks using HRA-generated data. Design. Secondary analysis of 3 years of HRA data. Setting. A large health care management services provider. Subjects. A total of 7535 adults employed across three companies who completed consecutive HRAs over a 3-year period. Measures. Self-report items concerning participant health, lifestyle behaviors, disease risk factors, job/life satisfaction, safety, and biometrics. Analysis. Structural equation modeling tested a hypothesized longitudinal, fully cross-lagged panel design. Results. Results indicated that greater numbers of physical and behavioral risks classified as high risk were associated with greater intention to change or an actual change in lifestyle behavior in the following year. In addition, poorer emotional health was associated with a higher number of risks. Conclusion. Data from repeat participation in HRAs can be useful in studying multiple risk behaviors and related health measures, supporting the design and evaluation of effective, individualized, and responsive health promotion activities for working adults.