Somatic Symptoms and Health Risk Behavior in Russian Youth: Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic
https://doi.org/10.35627/2219-5238/2024-32-2-26-31
Abstract
Introduction: People of many countries have become more susceptible to health risk behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic. Modern experts have studied psychological, but not psychosomatic outcomes of this susceptibility.
Objective: To examine somatic symptoms and health risk behavior, their prevalence and associations among Russian youth during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Materials and methods: In 2021–2022, 1,050 young Russians aged 18 to 25 years were surveyed. They filled out the Patient Health Questionnaire-15 and a form containing questions about behavioral patterns in relation to sleep, diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Results: Among the respondents, 32 % were somatized, 79 % slept less than 7 hours a day, 89 % ate junk food, 40 % smoked regular or electronic cigarettes, 46 % often consumed alcohol, and 81 % had low physical activity. Somatization was more frequent in women, while health risk behavior was more common in men and the respondents with somatic symptoms.
Conclusion: It is important to develop and implement programs of psychological education and prevention of somatization and health risk behavior.
About the Author
A. A. Zolotareva
National Research University “Higher School of Economics”
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Alena A. Zolotareva - Cand. Sci. (Psi.), Associate Professor, School of Psychology, HSE University.
20 Myasnitskaya Street, Moscow, 101000
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For citations:
Zolotareva A.A. Somatic Symptoms and Health Risk Behavior in Russian Youth: Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic. Public Health and Life Environment – PH&LE. 2024;32(2):26-31. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.35627/2219-5238/2024-32-2-26-31
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