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Adolescence is a decisive period in the development of a healthy lifestyle and in the persistence of habits endangering the health. Adult health behavior, such as regular exercise, a healthy diet, but at the same time risk behaviors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, abnormal eating are becoming habitual in adolescence and are maintained until adulthood. Our research focuses on the individual factors of health-damaging behavior, focusing on the impulsiveness and the expression of aggression. 385 adolescents participated in our study belonging to the 16-18 years old age group, by the gender they were 182 boys (47.3%) and 203 girls (52.7%). Our questionnaire consisted of demographic (gender, age, school type, school outcomes), and health behavior related items (physical activity, nutrition, smoking, alcohol consumption). In addition, the participants filled out the Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS-A, Fossati et al, 2002) adapted to adolescents, and the Anger Expression Scale (A/EX, Spielberger, 1985). There were significant differences between adolescents characterized by high health-risk and low health-risk behavior along the impulsivity scores, such as attention impulsiveness, motor impulsiveness and lack of planning. As for the expression of aggression, there were also significant differences in the expression of anger, as well as the inner-oriented anger. In addition, significant differences between high and low health-risk adolescents were found in the lack of planning and its sub-factors. Regarding the expression of aggression, significant differences were observed with respect to the health-protection behavior of inward-oriented anger. The variables measured by the impulsivity scale, such as lack of planning, high impulsiveness, and expression of anger, have a predictive role for health-risk behavior. Our research highlights the role of impulsiveness and anger in adolescents with adverse health behaviors. Our results are well suited for the practical prevention of risk behavior and the planning of counseling programs for adolescents.
Keywords: aggression, impulsiveness, risk behavior, adolescence
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