Abstract
The relationship of social ties to health behavior is studied in this paper. The general hypothesis tested is that those with social relationships are more likely to avoid health damaging behavior. Patterns regarding specific social ties and particular health behaviors are examined. Findings indicate the relationships of spouse, organization member, and friend are related to preventive health behavior; spouses are less likely smokers, drinkers, and heavy drinkers. The friend relationship is related to decreased smoking behavior, while the employee relationship is related to increased drinking. A consistent predictor of health behaviors is the social tie of organization member. People with relationships as organization members are more likely always to wear seat belts, smoke and drink less, and consume lower amounts of these substances.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Becker, M. H., and Maiman, L. A. (1983). Models of health-related behavior. In Mechanic, D. (ed.),Handbook of Health, Health Care and the Health Professions, Free Press, New York, pp. 539–568.
Belloc, N. B. (1973). Relationship of health practices and mortality.Prev. Med. 2: 67–81.
Belloc, N. B., and Breslow, L. (1972). Relationship of physical health status and health practices.Prev. Med. 1: 409–421.
Berkman, L. F., and Breslow, L. (1983).Health and Ways of Living: The Alameda County Study, Oxford University Press, New York.
Bradstock, M. K., Marks, J., Forman, M. R., Gentry, E., Hogelin, G. C., and Trowbridge, F. L. (1985). The behavioral risk factor surveys: Chronic heavy alcohol use in the United States.Am. J. Prev. Med. 1: 15–20.
Centers for Disease Control (1977).Ten Leading Causes of Death in the United States 1977, DHHS Publication No. (CDC) 80-640, Washington, DC.
Coburn, D., and Pope, C. R. (1974). Socioeconomic status and preventive health behavior.J. Health Soc. Behav. 15: 67–78.
Cummings, K. M., Becker, M. H., and Maile, M. C. (1980). Bringing the models together: An empirical approach to combining variables used to explain health actions.J. Behav. Med. 3: 123–145.
Eckardt, M. J., Harford, T. E., Kaelber, C. T., Parker, E., Rosenthal, L., Ryback, R. S., Salmoiraghi, G. C., Vanderveen, E., and Warren, K. R. (1981). Health hazards associated with alcohol consumption.JAMA 246: 648–666.
Eiser, J. R., and Gentle, P. (1988). Health behavior as goal-directed action.J. Behav. Med. 11: 523–535.
Farmer, M. E., Locke, B. Z., Moscicki, E. K., Dannenberg, A. L., Larson, D. B., and Radloff, L. (1988). Physical activity and depressive symptoms: The NHANES I Epidemiological Follow-up Study.Am. J. Epidemiol. 128: 1340–1351.
Gottlieb, N. H., and Green, L. W. (1984). Life events, social network, life-style, and health.Health Educ. Q. 11: 91–105.
Hamburg, D. A. (1982).Health and Behavior: Frontiers of Research in the Biomedical Sciences, National Academy Press, Washington, DC.
Harris, D. M., and Guten, S. (1979). Health protective behavior: An exploratory study.J. Health Soc. Behav. 20: 17–29.
Hayes, D., and Ross, C. E. (1986). Body and mind: The effect of exercise, overweight, and physical health on psychological well-being.J. Health Soc. Behav. 27: 387–399.
House, J. S., Robbins, C., and Metzner, H. L. (1982). The association of social relationships and activities with mortality: Prospective evidence from the Tecumseh Community Health Study.Am. J. Epidemiol. 116: 123–140.
Kannel, W. B. (1967). Habitual level of physical activity and risk of coronary heart disease.Can. Med. Assoc. J. 96: 811–812.
Kannel, W. B. (1971). Habits and heart disease. In Palmore, E., and Jeffers, F. C. (eds.),Prediction of Life Span, Heath Lexington Books, Lexington, MA, Chap. 5.
Langlie, J. K. (1977). Social networks, health beliefs, and preventive health behavior.J. Health Soc. Behav. 18: 244–259.
Lau, R. R., Quadrel, M. J., and Hartman, K. A. (1990). Development and change of young adults' preventive health beliefs and behavior: Influence from parents and peers.J. Health Soc. Behav. 30: 240–259.
Ravenholt, R. T. (1985). Tobacco's impact on twentieth-century U.S. mortality patterns.Am. J. Prev. Med. 1: 4–17.
Robbins, C. (1989). Sex differences in psychosocial consequences of alcohol and drug use.J. Health Soc. Behav. 30: 117–130.
Schoenborn, C. A. (1986). Health habits of U.S. adults, 1985: the “Alameda 7” revisited.Public Health Rep. 101: 571–580.
Siscovick, D. S., Laporte, R. E., and Newman, J. M. (1985). The disease-specific benefits and risks of physical activity and exercise.Public Health Rep. 100: 180–188.
Umberson, D. (1987). Family status and health behaviors.J. Health Soc. Behav. 28: 306–319.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (1986).Report of the Secretary's Task Force on Black and Minority Health, Vol. 1. Executive Summary, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC.
Verbrugge, L. M. (1989). The twain meet: Empirical explanations of sex differences in health and mortality.J. Health Soc. Behav. 30: 282–304.
Waldron, I., and Lye, D. (1989a). Family roles and smoking.Am. J. Prev. Med. 5: 136–141.
Waldron, I., and Lye, D. (1989b). Employment, unemployment, occupation, and smoking.Am. J. Prev. Med. 5: 142–149.
Wilson, R. W., and Elinson, J. (1981). National survey of personal health practices and consequences: Background, conceptual issues, and selected findings.Public Health Rep. 96: 218–225.
Wingard, D. L., Berkman, L. F., and Brand, R. J. (1982). A multivariate analysis of health-related practices.Am. J. Epidemiol. 116: 765–775.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Broman, C.L. Social relationships and health-related behavior. J Behav Med 16, 335–350 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00844776
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00844776