Predictors of Cold Weather Health Behaviors
Abstract
This study screened potential predictors of maladaptive cold weather behaviors. Male Marine Corps volunteers (n = 161) completed questionnaires providing a battery of predictor measures, including: (a) Personal history variables related to cold injuries, (b) Health beliefs concerning personal susceptibility to and severity of illness, and the efficacy of preventive behaviors, and perceived control of health outcomes by personal actions, professionals skills, and chance, (c) Health habits, and (d) Situational variables including mood, perceived leadership, weather conditions, workload, and morale. Self-reported liquid intake, food intake, and foot care during field exercises in cold weather training were the dependent variables. The combined predictors explained 22.1% of the variance in food intake, 15.1% of the variance in foot care, but only 2.3% of the variance in liquid consumption. The initial findings suggest that refined models can be developed with further work which will have higher predictive accuracy and provide a basis for developing programs to improve cold weather health behaviors. Originator-supplied keywords include: Health Behavior, Health Beliefs, Demographics, Mood, Cold Weather, Heath Habits, Water Intake, Food Intake, and Foot Care.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1984
- Accession Number
- ADA151910
Entities
People
- L. K. Hervig
- R. R. Vickers Jr.
Organizations
- Naval Health Research Center