Personal anxiety and attitudes toward behavioral risk factors for cardiovascular diseases among young people

Objective. To study the association between personal anxiety and attitudes toward behavioral risk factors for cardiovascular diseases among individuals aged 25–44 years in Novosibirsk. Material and methods. Between 2013 and 2016, a total of 427 men (mean age: 34 ± 0.4 years; response rate: 71 %) and 548 women (mean age: 35 ± 0.4 years; response rate: 72 %) from the Oktyabrsky district of Novosibirsk were surveyed. Attitudes toward behavioral risk factors for cardiovascular diseases were assessed using the “Knowledge and Attitude Toward One’s Health” questionnaire. Personal anxiety (PA) was evaluated using the Spielberger self-assessment scale, as modified by Yu.L. Khanin. Anxiety levels were categorized as follows: scores up to 30 indicated low anxiety (LA), 31–44 indicated average anxiety (AA), and 45 or higher indicated high anxiety (HA). The study was conducted in accordance with standard methods outlined in the World Health Organization MONICA-psychosocial program. Results. No statistically significant differences were observed in attitudes toward smoking, as smokers were prevalent across all anxiety groups (HA, AA, and LA; p > 0.05). Respondents with AA (22 %) and HA (19.5 %) were more likely than those with LA (18.8 %) to acknowledge that they should follow a diet but did not. Only 13 % of individuals with HA reported having changed their diet for health reasons and continued to adhere to it (p = 0.009). Participants with AA (47.1 %) were more likely than those with HA (44 %) to respond, “I should exercise, but I don’t” (p = 0.02). Individuals with AA (26.1 %) and HA (22.1 %) were more likely to engage in physically passive leisure activities (p = 0.018). Young people with AA (23.5 %) and HA (18.4 %) were more likely than those with LA (14.7 %) to report feeling “less active” (p = 0.01). A decline in work performance over the past 12 months was reported by 26.9 % of individuals with HA, which is twice the rate observed in those with LA (12.3 %; p = 0.0001). Conclusions. PA is associated with unhealthy dietary habits and reduced physical activity among young adults. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to address anxiety-related behavioral risk factors for CVD in this population.