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Health Behaviors in Austrian Apprentices and School Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Teresa O’Rourke

    (Department for Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health, Danube University Krems, 3500 Krems, Austria
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Rachel Dale

    (Department for Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health, Danube University Krems, 3500 Krems, Austria
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Elke Humer

    (Department for Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health, Danube University Krems, 3500 Krems, Austria)

  • Thomas Probst

    (Department for Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health, Danube University Krems, 3500 Krems, Austria)

  • Paul Plener

    (Department of Child and Adolescence Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
    Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, 89075 Ulm, Germany)

  • Christoph Pieh

    (Department for Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health, Danube University Krems, 3500 Krems, Austria)

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted our daily lives, which in turn has impacted health behaviors. Young people have been particularly affected. This study aimed to assess health behaviors in Austrian apprentices and high school students during the COVID-19 pandemic and whether vaccination willingness is affected by health behaviors. Methods: Two online surveys were conducted via REDCap with 1442 apprentices (female: 53.5%, male: 45.4%) from 29 March to 18 May 2021 and 563 school students (female: 79.6%, male: 18.6%) from 19 June to 2 July 2021. The two samples were matched to account for sociodemographic differences and analyses were run on the matched sample. Besides the health behaviors, namely, smoking, alcohol consumption, cannabis consumption, and exercise, health status and vaccination willingness were also assessed. Results: Health behaviors were affected by both education group and gender. Apprentices reported significantly more smoking than high school students and this difference was more pronounced in women (all p < 0.01). Alcohol consumption was higher in apprentices than school students, but only in women ( p < 0.01). There was a trend for the two education groups to differ in their cannabis use as well ( p = 0.05). Apprentices took part in more weekly exercise ( p < 0.0001), but high school students reported better average health status ( p < 0.001). When included in the same model, health behaviors did not affect vaccine willingness, but education group did, with high school students showing a higher willingness to receive the COVD-19 vaccine than apprentices. Conclusions: These findings support the argument that education type is an important factor for health behaviors, but this is also mediated by gender. Appropriate interventions for adolescents are needed to prevent adverse health behavior changes following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Teresa O’Rourke & Rachel Dale & Elke Humer & Thomas Probst & Paul Plener & Christoph Pieh, 2022. "Health Behaviors in Austrian Apprentices and School Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-9, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:3:p:1049-:d:727559
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pheerasak Assavanopakun & Wachiranun Sirikul & Tharntip Promkutkao & Suchat Promkutkeo & Jinjuta Panumasvivat, 2022. "Focus on High School: Factors Associated with Creating Harmony between the Educational Transition and Adolescents’ Well-Being," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-16, July.
    2. Teresa Rubio-Tomás & Maria Skouroliakou & Dimitrios Ntountaniotis, 2022. "Lockdown Due to COVID-19 and Its Consequences on Diet, Physical Activity, Lifestyle, and Other Aspects of Daily Life Worldwide: A Narrative Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-41, June.

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