Health Lifestyles among Russian Youth: Gender Differences
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14515/monitoring.2026.2.3059Keywords:
health lifestyles, social class, sport participation, alcohol consumptionAbstract
This article investigates the health-related lifestyles of Russian youth. Utilizing longitudinal data from the «Trajectories in Education and Profession» study (N = 3398, 2022), a latent class analysis was conducted, identifying three distinct classes of young people (mean age: 26): those adhering to a healthy lifestyle, those prone to unhealthy habits, and those passive about health. Building on W. Cockerham’s revised model, the study examines the distribution of young men and women across classes according to a range of socio-demographic and economic characteristics. The analysis revealed significant gender differences in health-related lifestyles. Women were less likely than men to belong to the class prone to unhealthy habits and more likely to follow either a healthy or a passive lifestyle. Among married individuals, women more often adhered to a healthy lifestyle, while men were more frequently associated with unhealthy habits. Higher education levels and high subjective assessments of material well-being were more strongly linked to healthy lifestyles overall for both genders. However, among men with high material status, the proportion adhering to unhealthy habits remained substantial, suggesting that material resources do not always translate into health-preserving behavior. Prior experience with regular sports participation is important for maintaining a healthy lifestyle for both genders, but particularly for women; lack of such experience is closely linked to their placement in the passive health class.
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