The impact of self-control on health risk behaviors among orphans in middle school

Abstract

Objective To explore relationship between self-control and health risk behavior among orphans in middle schools.

Methods A total of 415 orphans and 352 non-orphans in middle schools were selected from Hunan, Liaoning, Sichuan, Guangdong and Fujian during Oct. 2017 to Apr. 2018. All the participants were surveyed with the Adolescent Health Related Risky Behavior Inventory (AHRBI) and the Self-Control Scale (SCS).

Results All the orphans in ordinary middle schools obtained significant higher scores in AHRBI (1.76±0.70) than students in orphan schools (1.55±0.40) and non-orphans (1.50±0.37) ( P< 0.01). Students in orphan middle schools showed significant higher scores in SCS (3.37±0.56) than orphans in ordinary middle schools (3.07±0.63) and non-orphans (3.13±0.60) ( P<0.05). Self-control of orphans was significantly associated with 44% lower risk of health risk behaviors ( P<0.05).

Conclusion Self-control could be seen as a protective factor for health risk behaviors among orphaned children and adolescents. The environment of orphan schools is beneficial to the development of self-control, and thus helps preventing health risk behaviors among orphaned children.

Abstract

【摘要】 目的探讨孤儿自我控制能力和健康危险行为现况及其相互关系，为干预和预防孤儿健康危险行为提供科 学依据。 方法2017年10月一2018年4月，采用青少年健康相关危险行为问卷和自我控制量表对取自湖南、辽宁、四川、 广东、福建等5省采用方便取样法收集到的415名中学在校孤儿和352名在校非孤儿进行调查。 结果普通中学孤儿的 健康危险行为总均分（1.76±0.70)高于孤儿学校孤儿（1.55±0.40)和非孤儿（1.50±0.37)，差异有统计学意义（ P<0.01)。在 孤儿学校孤儿的自我控制能力总均分（3.37±0.56)高于普通中学孤儿（3.07±0.63)和非孤儿（3.13±0.60)，差异有统计学意 义 ( P<0.01)。孤儿自我控制能力能够负向预测健康危险行为44%的变异。 结论自我控制能力是孤儿健康危险行为的 重要保护性因素；孤儿学校环境有利于孤儿自我控制能力的发展，有利于预防和干预孤儿健康危险行为。