Young Women’s Value Preferences, Health Behaviour, Well-Being and Life Satisfaction

Young Women’s Value Preferences, Health Behaviour, Well-Being and Life Satisfaction | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Young Women’s Value Preferences, Health Behaviour, Well-Being and Life Satisfaction Katalin Julianna DINNYÉS, Henriette PUSZTAFALVI This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7456428/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Introduction : According to national and international research, health is a core value, but there is often a discrepancy between its importance and its practical implementation. The aim of the present study was to explore the relationships between the values of young adult higher education students and their health behaviour, quality of life and subjective well-being. Materials and Methods: A total of 563 respondents (122 men, 21.7%; 437 women, 77.6%) were interviewed in our cross-sectional study, with a mean age of 27.6 years (SD=9.9). Several validated measurement instruments were used in our study: the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS-H), the IRVS Values Importance and Realisation List, the Health Related Attitudes Questionnaire (HACQ), the EQ-5D-5 L Quality of Life Questionnaire, the WHO Well-Being Index (WBI-5), and the Big Five Personality Dimensions Measure. The data were processed via IBM SPSS 26.0 and Excel. Spearman correlation, Wilcoxon tests, Mann-Whitney U tests and Kolmogorov‒Smirnov tests were used for statistical analyses (p<0.05). Results : Health, safety and family were found to be the most important values for the participants, whereas good heartedness, honesty and integrity were more likely to lead in implementation. A significant difference was found between the importance of these values and their actual realisation (p<0.001). Both the importance and realisation of the value system were positively associated with positive health behaviours, particularly diet (r=0.188 0.210; p<0.001), physical activity (r=0.078 0.127; p<0.001) and preventive behaviour (r=0.149 0.242); p<0.001), as well as with subjective health (r=0.162 0.314; p<0.001), emotional well-being (r=0.159 0.375; p<0.001), well-being (r=0.255 0.390; p<0.001) and life satisfaction (r=0.221 0.401; p<0.001). A negative relationship was found between alcohol consumption and aggression. Conclusions : Our results suggest that health is a priority for young adult students but that there are gaps in its practical implementation. A stable and consistently enforced value system is a strong protective factor for positive health behaviour, increased well-being and life satisfaction. This research highlights the need for value-based health promotion among students in higher education. Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Background The value system is one of the most important foundations of personality and society, determining the choices, behaviours and lifestyles of individuals. Classical theories of values [ 19 , 21 ] emphasise that values provide a stable yet changing framework for our everyday lives, determining what we value and the direction in which we shape our lives. The functions of values include providing motivational orientation, regulating behaviour and ensuring social belonging. Research shows that young people's values are constantly changing in response to social, economic and cultural changes [ 9 , 14 ]. Schwartz's theory of values classifies values along universal categories and presents a hierarchical and circular structure [ 21 ]. According to the model, the dynamics between values, such as the contrasting pairs of openness and conservatism, self-actualisation and self-enhancement, fundamentally influence young adults' choices and life choices. Value preferences thus determine not only individual but also societal attitudes towards, for example, health, prevention or community involvement. The study of young people's health behaviour cannot be divorced from the national traditions and institutional framework of health education [ 23 ]. Health is one of the most frequently highlighted core values and plays a dominant role in the hierarchy of value preferences. According to the WHO definition of health, health is not only the absence of disease but also a state of physical, mental and social well-being [ 15 ]. Health as a value provides a fundamental orientation not only for the prevention and treatment of disease but also for everyday life management [ 17 ]. Research has shown that young adults who value health more highly are more aware of their lifestyle and are more likely to participate in preventive activities [ 8 ]. In the context of health as a value, impulsivity is also closely associated with substance use and risk-taking behaviour [ 3 , 7 ]. A historical review of health education in Hungary revealed that the transmission of health as a value has long been part of education and social institutions [ 23 ]. This confirms the finding that the perception of health in young people's values is not only the result of individual choices but also shaped by wider cultural and institutional influences. Young adulthood is a crucial stage in the life course, during which individuals gradually develop their own value systems and establish patterns of life choices that influence their quality of life and health behaviour in the long term. According to Erikson's psychosocial theory of development, this is a period in which the search for identity, autonomy and the assumption of social roles are predominant [ 6 ]. The choices made in young adulthood, such as study, mate choice and employment, significantly shape value preferences and contribute to determining life course direction [ 1 ]. The value system at this stage of life attests to both stability and variability. Stability is linked to the norms previously acquired during socialisation, whereas variability results from adaptation to the social and cultural context. Domestic studies have shown that Hungarian adults value family, security and health but also increasingly value freedom, self-actualisation and success orientation [ 13 , 14 , 17 ]. International comparative studies [ 10 , 21 ] describe a shift in the values of young generations towards postmaterial values: welfare, environmental sustainability, human rights and self-expression are increasingly emphasised. However, youth surveys among Hungarian youth [ 26 , 27 ] have shown that traditional values, such as the importance of the family, remain dominant but that freedom and independence are also gaining importance in line with global trends. Value preferences are closely linked to everyday lifestyles. Among young adults, decision-making plays a key role: decisions related to healthy lifestyles (e.g., exercise, nutrition, avoidance of harmful addictions) are directly reflected in their value systems [ 18 ]. Research has shown that young people who place health among their most important values are more likely to have conscious prevention strategies and to take better care of their physical and mental well-being [ 8 , 9 ]. The social environment also plays a significant role in shaping young adults' values. Peers, social media and educational institutions all strongly influence the formation of value preferences. Intense presence in the online space facilitates the internalisation of global values but can also increase the uncertainty associated with searching for identity [ 16 ]. The international literature highlights the close link between value preferences and personality traits. For example, the five main personality dimensions (the Big Five: openness (O), conscientiousness (C), extraversion (E), friendliness (A) and neuroticism/emotional instability [ 11 , 20 ]) influence how individuals experience health-related decisions. Extraversion and openness personality types are more likely to be associated with positive health behaviours, whereas high levels of neuroticism tend to be associated with negative attitudes and lower well-being [ 4 , 22 , 24 ]. These personality traits are particularly important for young adults, as decisions are less fixed and are intensely shaped by the social and educational environment. The perception of health as a value is closely linked to attitudes toward prevention and daily living. Research has shown that young people who have health-oriented values are more likely to participate in screening, avoid harmful addictions and engage in regular physical activity [ 18 , 24 , 27 ]. In contrast, the impact of the media in today's digital environment is not negligible, as health-related information and patterns that circulate online can have a major impact on shaping young people's attitudes, sometimes in positive and sometimes in negative ways [ 16 ]. Research has suggested that young people often show a strong commitment to health but that this commitment is not always consistently reflected in their behaviour. In the psychology literature, this phenomenon is described by the theory of the 'intention-action gap', which suggests that although the intention to make healthy choices may be high, a number of factors, such as a lack of clear decision-making skills, peer pressure or media influence, may hinder actual behaviour [ 7 ]. International longitudinal studies have also shown that young people's values, such as substance use, can determine their health behaviour in the long term [ 25 ]. The effects of public health programmes need to be understood in a complex way, as in addition to positive outcomes, there may also be adverse side effects, such as increased stigma or anxiety [ 2 ]. These findings confirm that health promotion interventions should be designed not only to positively reinforce values and attitudes but also to mitigate potential unintended consequences. In the Hungarian context, it is important to note that programmes aimed at reducing social disadvantage, such as increasing employment and improving quality of life, are closely related to public health outcomes and attitudes towards health. The experience of a project in Hungary showed that increasing employment opportunities among disadvantaged groups can contribute to better quality of life and social inclusion, which indirectly supports the perception of health as a value [ 12 ]. Methods Study The study was conducted in a cross-sectional, quantitative research design using a self-completed, anonymous questionnaire. Participation was voluntary, and the respondents were free to discontinue completion at any time. Participants The target population consisted of young adults and students in higher education. The inclusion criterion was active student status (full-time or part-time). A total of 590 people started to complete the questionnaire, 563 of whom provided a complete response and were included in the final analysis. Recruitment was carried out through the Rectors of all Hungarian universities, which forwarded the questionnaire link sent with the research permit to their students. Measuring instruments The questionnaire contains 66 questions, including validated measurement instruments: Sociodemographic data: sex, age, place of residence, and type of education. Values: the IRVS Values Importance and Achievement List (VALL). Health attitudes: the Health Attitudes Questionnaire (HAC). Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS-H). Overall quality of life: EQ-5D-5 L questionnaire. Psychological well-being: WHO Well-Being Index (WBI-5). Personality dimensions: Big Five Inventory. Health behaviour: questions on smoking and alcohol consumption. Reliability The reliability of the measures used was assessed via Cronbach's alpha values as an indicator of internal consistency. The scorecard (IRVS scorecard) demonstrated excellent reliability in both the importance (α = 0.913) and implementation (α = 0.949) dimensions. Additionally, high internal consistency was indicated by the SWLS-H, a scale measuring life satisfaction (α = 0.871), and the WHO well-being scale (α = 0.871). The internal consistency was found to be medium (α = 0.675) for the EQ-5D-5 L quality-of-life scale (α = 0.618), whereas the EQ-5D-5 L quality-of-life scale had a lower but still acceptable reliability value (α = 0.618). These results indicate acceptable or excellent internal consistency. Statistical analysis Data collection took place between 2 March 2024 and 6 June 2024. The data were processed via IBM SPSS Statistics 26.0 and Microsoft Excel 2010. In addition to descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, frequency, percentage distribution), normality tests were performed via the Kolmogorov‒Smirnov test. The nonparametric tests used were the Mann‒Whitney U test and Wilcoxon signed rank test. Spearman rank correlation was used to explore correlations. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to structure the value dimensions. All analyses were performed with two-sided tests with 95% confidence intervals; the level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. In the case of nonresponse, questionnaires were excluded from the analysis via the listwise method. Ethical considerations Permission to conduct this study was granted by the Scientific and Research Ethics Committee of the Health Science Board (Permit No. BM/26566-1/2023). All parts of the study complied with the ethical principles set out in the Declaration of Helsinki. The participants were informed in writing before completion, and their willingness to participate was confirmed via electronic consent. Data access Data generated during the study will be made available in a nonidentifiable format upon reasonable request from the corresponding author. Results A total of 563 young adults participated in the survey, of whom 122 were men (21.7%) and 437 were women (77.6%), whereas 4 (0.7%) did not wish to answer this question. The vast majority of the sample is female, so we do not distinguish between men and women in our results. The average age of the respondents was 27.6 years (SD = 9.9), which is representative of the young adult age group. In terms of marital status, the majority of the respondents were single (35%), while a smaller proportion were cohabiting or married (7%), and a small proportion were divorced or widowed. The breakdown by place of residence indicates that approximately 60% of the respondents live in a city and 40% in a smaller town, indicating social diversity in the sample. The spatial distribution reflects a varied picture, with the largest number of respondents living in the North Great Plains (26%), a significant number of respondents from the South Great Plains (21%), Central Hungary (Pest County, with Budapest as the capital, 20%), and regions of Central Transdanubia (11%) and South Transdanubia (8%) showing a lower propensity to respond and the lowest number of responses from North Hungary (5%). The largest proportion of participants were in medical and health sciences, accounting for 32.0% of the sample. There is also a significant proportion of students in teacher education (22.6%). Students in the humanities (8.3%), agriculture (8.3%) and economics (7.3%) also represented a significant group. The technical (6.6%) and social science (5.7%) fields of study are moderately represented, whereas a smaller proportion of students are in computer science (3.2%), natural sciences (1.8%) and law (1.6%). There is a significant proportion of students in arts (0.9%), theology (0.4%), engineering (0.4%), sociology (0.4%), therapeutic pedagogy (0.4%), pharmacy (0.2%) and sports science (0.2%). The majority of the respondents lived in urban areas (47.6%), while the proportion of rural/community/rural residents was 28% overall. There is also a significant group of people living in the county capital, accounting for 24.3% of the respondents. (Fig. 1 here) Figure 1 results show that respondents' health behaviours are mostly reflected in the avoidance of harmful addictions and support for prevention, while there are gaps in lifestyle factors, especially alcohol consumption, emotional balance and subjective health; however, overall, the health behaviours of the sample are very positive. Figure 2 illustrates the values of our respondents (two dimensions of the IRVS value scale: importance and achievement). (Fig. 2 here) In the importance dimension, the highest average scores were given to health and safety (4.8) and to honesty, family, happiness, honesty and kindness (4.7). The respondents also rated the categories of meaning, love of life, freedom and autonomy (4.6) as highly important. At the other end of the scale, authority (3.6), originality (3.9) and modesty (4.1) were rated the lowest in importance. In the implementation dimension, the most implemented values were goodness of heart (4.6), honesty and sincerity (4.5) and intelligence (4.5). In the midfield are family (4.2), autonomy (4.2), health (4.1) and achievement (4.1). The lowest values are authority (3.6), well-being (3.8) and success (3.8). For the young adults we surveyed, health, security and family are the most important values, whereas in the actual realisation dimension, the goodness of heart, honesty and sincerity are the most important values. In both dimensions, authority and material values received the lowest average scores. A discrepancy between students' value preferences and their actual lived and practiced values is confirmed (based on the Wilcoxon signed rank test (T = 54851 Z = -12.528 p < 0.000 (1-tailed)). The difference in the median values (Mdn = 107 for importance, Mdn = 100 for realisation) suggests that although the majority of the values studied are considered by students to be extremely important, the practical realisation of these values is already present in their lives at a lower level. The significant difference demonstrates that this difference is not random but rather has a consistent pattern among participants. This is in line with our previous results, which can be seen in the graph, as while health, safety, family and honesty scored very high in the importance dimension, the realisation dimension is more dominated by kindness, honesty and modesty; thus, other factors are more prominent in life management. The Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS-H) consists of five items (min 5–max 30) that measure subjective perceptions of quality of life. On the basis of the mean score of the respondents (M = 21.3), overall, the respondents had a positive attitude. The highest mean scores were given to the statements "My life is close to ideal in most respects" and "I am satisfied with my life", suggesting that a significant proportion of respondents feel that their overall living conditions are in line with their expectations. Similarly, the statement "If I could live my life over again, I would change almost nothing", which is an indicator of overall satisfaction with life and choices, was also rated positively. Lower, but still positive, scores were found for the statements "My living conditions are excellent" and "I have had everything I wanted in life thus far". This suggests that although respondents are generally satisfied, they may still perceive gaps in certain financial, social or life situation factors. The results of the SWLS-H scale show that, on average, the study sample has a high level of satisfaction with life, mainly supported by satisfaction with the overall quality of life and the way their life is going, but with a lower level of perceived deficits in the dimensions of life circumstances and the achievement of desired goals. The WHO Well-Being Questionnaire (WBI-5) consists of five items and focuses on how respondents have felt about themselves over the past two weeks. The items measure the experience of positive psychological states: cheerfulness and cheerfulness, calm and relaxed, active and alert, fresh and energetic on waking, and the experience of an interesting and eventful daily life. The respondents rated the extent to which they felt this way on a four-point Likert scale (1 = not at all, 4 = very much). A higher score indicates better subjective well-being, and the results should be interpreted in aggregate (min. 5 - max. 20). Our results indicate that the average well-being level of respondents is considered medium (M = 10.1). The emotional well-being of the group is well balanced, with positive emotions (cheerfulness, cheerfulness) predominating, whereas the indicators for energy and rest are weaker, which may reflect the influence of lifestyle and psychological factors. The Big Five personality dimension scale measures five personality traits, and the highest scores in the study sample were for conscientiousness (37), friendliness (37) and openness (37). This suggests that respondents are characterised by a sense of responsibility for rules and obligations, a desire to cooperate with others and to work in harmony, and receptiveness to new experiences. A moderately high value of extraversion (33) indicates moderate sociability, openness and energy levels but is not a dominant personality trait for all respondents. The lowest score was for neuroticism (27), indicating relatively low emotional instability and a tendency toward anxiety. These findings indicate that the study group is emotionally stable and less prone to negative emotional states and adverse reactions to stress. Our research shows that students in higher education are conscientious, friendly, open, and moderately extraverted, while their emotional stability is relatively strong. This combination may be a supportive factor for academic performance, social relationships and health behaviour. Discussion The aim of our research was to explore the relationships between the importance and implementation of a value system and health behaviour, quality of life and subjective well-being. We analysed the relationships between the values that respondents considered most important and the way in which they actually lived these values and their relationships with everyday health behaviours (e.g., nutrition, physical activity, prevention, avoidance of harmful addictions) and with indicators of psychological well-being and quality of life. To support our work, we also conducted correlation analyses and first hypothesised that higher levels of awareness and adherence to a value system would be positively associated with positive health behaviours, better subjective health and higher life satisfaction, whereas a negative association could be assumed for harmful habits (e.g., alcohol consumption, smoking). The aim of the correlation analysis was to demonstrate that stable and implemented values are protective factors in maintaining physical and mental health. Nutrition (importance: r = 0.188 p < 0.001; achievement: r = 0.210 p < 0.001), regular physical activity (r = 0.078 p < 0.001; r = 0.127 p < 0.001) and prevention (r = 0.149 p < 0.001; r = 0.242 p < 0.001) clearly show that the greater the level of awareness and/or experience of the value system is, the greater the degree to which positive health behaviours are associated. A strong relationship is observed with subjective health (r = 0.162 p < 0.001; r = 0.314 p < 0.001) and emotional equilibrium (r = 0.159 p < 0.001; r = 0.375 p < 0.001), suggesting that a stable value system and its practical implementation directly contribute to better health perceptions and psychological well-being. Well-being (WBI; r = 0.255 p < 0.001; r = 0.390 p < 0.001) and life satisfaction (SWLS; r = 0.221 p < 0.001; r = 0.401 p < 0.001) also showed strong positive correlations, highlighting the role of values in determining subjective quality of life. The importance dimension was weakly but significantly negatively correlated with alcohol consumption (r=-0.093 p = 0.013), whereas there was no significant correlation with the achievement dimension. Aggression also showed a weak negative relationship with the importance dimension (r=-0.077 p = 0.034) but was not significant in the implementation dimension. There was a negative association with the EQ-5D-5 L quality of life indicator (r=-0.227 p < 0.001; r=-0.375 p < 0.001), which is due to the specificity of the measure (a lower score for the EQ-5D-5 L indicates better quality of life). No significant relationship was found below. There was no strong or consistent relationship with the scoring system for the dimensions of smoking, substance abuse aversion, or telephone and internet use. The results clearly show that value systems, particularly their implementation, are strongly associated with positive health behaviours, positive subjective health perceptions, well-being and life satisfaction. This finding indicates that values, consciously adopted and put into practice, are powerful protective factors in maintaining physical and mental health. Our second hypothesis focused specifically on the role of health as a value in different variables. When the importance and realisation of health were examined, both dimensions showed significant correlations with the variables under study but with different strengths. Health importance was positively associated with several health behaviours, such as nutrition (r = 0.247; p < 0.001), regular physical activity (r = 0.194; p < 0.001), preventive behaviour (r = 0.251; p < 0.001), subjective health (r = 0.159; p < 0.001) and emotional equilibrium (r = 0.156; p < 0.001). It was also strongly associated with life satisfaction (SWLS; r = 0.180; p < 0.001) and subjective well-being (WBI; r = 0.208; p < 0.001). Health attainment was strongly correlated with preventive behaviour (r = 0.243; p < 0.001), subjective health (r = 0.270; p < 0.001) and emotional well-being (r = 0.298; p < 0.001), as were life satisfaction (SWLS; r = 0.292; p < 0.001) and well-being (WBI; r = 0.262; p < 0.001). Conclusions Investigating the relationship between young adults' values and health behaviour is of particular importance from a public health perspective, as it is at this stage of life that the patterns of decision-making that determine quality of life in the long term are formed. International longitudinal studies have shown that young people's values influence their health behaviour, such as substance use, in the longer term [ 25 ]. Other studies have shown that the development of health behaviour is shaped by a combination of ability, opportunity and motivation and that differences in these factors may explain inconsistencies in preventive and health-promoting behaviour [ 24 ]. Moreover, the effects of public health interventions need to be interpreted in a nuanced way, as positive outcomes may be accompanied by negative side effects, such as stigmatisation or increased anxiety [ 2 ]. The findings confirm the importance of considering the complex effects of interventions in addition to promoting value preferences when promoting health in young adults. The results of the study clearly show that health is a high priority in young adults' values but that there is evidence of a gap between importance and implementation. While health, safety and family are declared central values, in everyday practice, they are more likely to be expressed in terms of kindness, honesty and sincerity. The results show that higher levels of value awareness and its consistent implementation are strongly associated with positive health behaviours, better subjective health, emotional balance and higher well-being and life satisfaction. The negative correlations, especially in the case of alcohol consumption and aggression, suggest that internalised values can be a protective factor in reducing harmful behaviours. The results of the Big Five personality dimensions also confirm that positive personality traits (conscientiousness, friendliness, extraversion, openness) promote the internalisation of values, whereas high neuroticism is more of a hindering factor. Our correlational analyses show that both the importance and the implementation of the value system are significantly positively related to several dimensions of health behaviour, as well as to indicators of subjective well-being and life satisfaction. There are stronger positive correlations with preventive behaviour, nutrition, subjective health and emotional well-being. Similarly, there are strong correlations with indicators of well-being and life satisfaction. Negative correlations are found with alcohol consumption and partly with aggression, suggesting that stable values may act as a protective factor in reducing harmful behaviours. A significant negative correlation was also found with the EQ-5D-5 L quality of life indicator due to the specificity of the measure, where a lower score indicates a better quality of life. The Big Five personality dimensions revealed that conscientiousness, extraversion, friendliness and partial openness (r = 0.088; p = 0.018) were positively related to the importance of the value system, whereas neuroticism showed a weak negative correlation. These results support the idea that positive personality traits (e.g., emotional stability, conscientiousness) promote the internalisation and practical/everyday manifestation of values. Our results suggest that although the emphasis on health as a value is itself positively associated with positive health behaviours and psychological indicators, the actual realisation of health has an even stronger impact. This suggests that not only the declaration of the importance of health but also its consistent implementation in everyday life is a real protective factor for quality of life and subjective well-being. Our findings suggest that health promotion programmes should not only communicate health as a value but also support its actual implementation in young people's everyday lives. Emphasis should be placed on the consistent implementation of values in behaviour, alongside conscious lifestyle choices, prevention and the strengthening of psychological well-being. The message of the research is that health as a value is not only important at the level of declaration but also becomes a real protective factor when it is translated into everyday choices and life choices. In the long term, this approach can contribute to improving the quality of life of young adults and to strengthening the health status of society. In the future, complex, value-oriented programmes are needed to promote the experience of health not only at a conscious level but also in the behaviour and lifestyle of adolescents. Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate The study was approved by the Scientific and Research Ethics Committee of the Medical Research Council, Hungary (approval number: BM/26566-1/2023). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to data collection. Trial number Trial registration: BM/26566-1/2023 Other clinical trial number: Not applicable. Consent for publication Not applicable. Availability of data and materials The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. Competing interests The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Funding “SUPPORTED BY THE ÚNKP-23-4-I-PTE-1796 NEW NATIONAL EXCELLENCE PROGRAM OF THE MINISTRY FOR CULTURE AND INNOVATION FROM THE SOURCE OF THE NATIONAL RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION FUND. THE PROJECT 2024-2.1.1-EKÖP FUNDED BY THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND INNOVATION, NATIONAL FUND FOR RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION, UNDER THE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH GRANT PROGRAMME EKÖP-24-1.” Authors’ contributions D.K. designed the study, collected and analysed the data, and drafted the manuscript. P.H. contributed to the methodology, interpretation of results, and critically revised the manuscript. Both authors read and approved the final manuscript. Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank the participating students for their time and contribution to this research. Authors’ information Authors’ information D.K. is a health visitor and health promotion teacher with extensive expertise in youth health behaviour, oral health, and preventive health research. She holds a PhD absolutorium in health sciences and educational sciences and is actively engaged in teaching, research, and talent development in higher education. She is also a debate leader, trainer, and mentor, promoting critical thinking and communication skills in health education. She has been recognised with the TDK Excellent Educator Award and currently serves as President of the Psychology and Educational Science Section of the National Association of Doctoral Students (DOSZ). D.K. continuously publishes international, peer-reviewed articles in English, with a strong focus on values, health consciousness, and prevention in shaping health behaviour. P.H. is a researcher in the field of behavioural sciences and health promotion. References Arnett JJ. Emerging adulthood: a theory of development from the late teens through the twenties. Am Psychol. 2000;55(5):469-80. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.55.5.469 Bonell C, Jamal F, Melendez-Torres GJ, Cummins S. Dark logic: theorising the harmful consequences of public health interventions. BMC Public Health. 2021;21:206. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10365-8 Conner M, Norman P. Understanding the intention–behaviour gap: the role of intention strength. Front Psychol. 2022;13:923464. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.923464 Costa PT Jr, McCrae RR. Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI-R) and NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) professional manual. Odessa (FL): Psychological Assessment Resources; 1992. EuroQol Research Foundation. EQ-5D-5 L Egészségi kérdőív [Hungarian]. Available from: https://tm-centre.org/download/article-realated/191/egeszsegi-kerdoiv-0808102248.pdf. Accessed 25 Aug 2025. Erikson EH. Identity: youth and crisis. New York (NY): W. W. Norton & Company; 1968. Faries MD. Why we don’t “just do it”: understanding the intention–behavior gap in lifestyle medicine. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2016;10(5):322-9. https://doi.org/10.1177/1559827616638017 Feith HJ, Falus A, editors. Egészségfejlesztés és nevelés [Health promotion and education]. Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó; 2019. https://doi.org/10.1556/9789634544456. [Hungarian] Hofmeister-Tóth Á, Neulinger Á. A fogyasztóvá válás folyamata Magyarországon, OTKA kutatási tanulmány [The process of becoming a consumer in Hungary, OTKA research report]. Budapest: Budapesti Corvinus Egyetem; 2009. Available from: http://real.mtak.hu/2626/1/62605_ZJ1.pdf. Accessed 25 Aug 2025. [Hungarian] Inglehart R, Welzel C. Modernisation, cultural change, and democracy: the human development sequence. New York (NY): Cambridge University Press; 2005. Málovics É. Vállalkozáspszichológia [Entrepreneurship psychology]. Szeged: Szegedi Tudományegyetem; 2020. Available from: http://eta.bibl.u-szeged.hu/3710/1/EFOP343_AP6_V%C3%A1llalkoz%C3%A1spszichol%C3%B3gia_02_Olvas%C3%B3lecke_M%C3%A1lovics_%C3%89va_20200707.pdf. Accessed 25 Aug 2025. [Hungarian] Meisznerné Kuklek N, Cséplő M, Pozsonyi E, Pusztafalvi H. Raising employment and quality of life among people with disadvantages: results of a Hungarian project. BMC Public Health. 2021;21:1739. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11763-z Meleg Cs. Iskolai egészségnevelés: a feladat újrafogalmazása [School health education: reformulating the task]. Magy Pedagógia. 2002;102(1):11-29. Available from: http://www.magyarpedagogia.hu/document/csilla_meleg-school_based_health_education_reformulating_the_task.pdf. Accessed 25 Aug 2025. [Hungarian] Pál E. Értékkutatások – a fiatalok számára fontos értékek [Value research – values important to young people]. 2016. Available from: https://emok.hu/en/component/docs/d-491:ertekkutatasok---a-fiatalok-szamara-fontos-ertekek%3Fformat%3Dpdf. Accessed 25 Aug 2025. [Hungarian] Pálmai J. A holisztikus egészségfogalom felé [Towards a holistic concept of health]. In: Lippai L, editor. Holisztikus egészség, egészségmagatartás és egészségfejlesztés. Szeged: Szegedi Tudományegyetem Juhász Gyula Pedagógusképző Kar; 2017. p. 33-9. Available from: http://eta.bibl.u-szeged.hu/437/1/testmozgas_001.pdf. Accessed 25 Aug 2025. [Hungarian] Papageorgiou A, Fisher C, Cross D. “Why don’t I look like her?” How adolescent girls view social media and its connection to body image. BMC Womens Health. 2022;22:261. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-022-01845-4 Pavluska E. Az egészség mint érték a magyar társadalomban [Health as a value in Hungarian society]. Pécs: Pécsi Tudományegyetem; 2015. Available from: https://ktk.pte.hu/sites/ktk.pte.hu/files/images/szervezet/intezetek/mti/pavluska_az_egeszseg_mint_ertek_a_magyar_tarsadalomban_2015.pdf. Accessed 25 Aug 2025. [Hungarian] Pikó B, Brassai L. Values and health risk behaviours among Hungarian youth. J Early Adolesc. 2007;27(3):309-24. https://doi.org/10.1177/0272431607302006 Rokeach M. The nature of human values. New York (NY): Free Press; 1973. Rózsa S, Kálmán R, Kő N, Nagy H, Fiáth T, Oláh A. Az érzelmi arcfelismerés mérése és jelentősége a pszichológiai kutatásokban: az Ekman 60 Arc Teszttel szerzett hazai tapasztalatok [Measuring emotional face recognition and its significance in psychological research: Hungarian experience with the Ekman 60 Faces Test]. Pszichológia. 2012;32(3):229-51. [Hungarian] Schwartz SH. Universals in the content and structure of values: theoretical advances and empirical tests in 20 countries. Adv Exp Soc Psychol. 1992;25:1-65. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2601(08)60281-6 Strickhouser JE, Zell E, Krizan Z. Does personality predict health and well-being? A metasynthesis. Health Psychol. 2017;36(8):797-810. https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000475 Tigyiné Pusztafalvi H. Az egészségnevelés intézményesülésének története [The history of institutionalisation of health education]. Educatio. 2013;22(2):224-34. [Hungarian] Willmott TJ, Pang B, Rundle-Thiele S. Capability, opportunity, and motivation: an across contexts empirical examination of the COM-B model. BMC Public Health. 2021;21:1014. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11019-w Young R, West P. Do “good values” lead to “good” health behaviours? Longitudinal associations between young people's values and later substance use. BMC Public Health. 2010;10:165. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-10-165 Szabó K. Egészségügy a trianoni Magyarországon. In: Kapronczay K, editor. Orvostörténeti Közlemények. 2014. p. 226–9. Available from: https://library.hungaricana.hu/hu/view/ORSZ_ORVO_OK_2014_226_229/?pg=186&layout=s Pikó B. Az életmód elemei: szabadidő és az egészség-magatartás. In: Barabás K, szerk. Egészségfejlesztés: Alapismeretek pedagógusok számára. Budapest: Medicina; 2006. Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7456428","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":511370371,"identity":"4dd7d9c3-194a-4116-9d6f-e85989a63566","order_by":0,"name":"Katalin Julianna DINNYÉS","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA70lEQVRIiWNgGAWjYDCCw1BaAkR8AGI2duK1MDMwzgBpYSak5QCSFmYeEIuQFr7jvMce81TUMUi2nz/42ObXNnk+oG0fPubg1iJ5mC/dmOfMYQZpnmRm49y+24ZtQNskZ27DrcXgMI+ZNG/bAQY5hmQ26dye24xALWzMvAS1/KtjkON/zCZt2XPbnkgtDcwM0hJAWxh+3E4kqEUSqEVyzrHDPJIzHhsb9jbcTm5jZmzG6xe+82fMJN7U1MlJnE98+ODHn9u289ubD374iEcLCDABowMcIwyMbWCyAb96kJIfcOYfgopHwSgYBaNgBAIAiOxHPxpTghwAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"","institution":"University of Szeged","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Katalin","middleName":"Julianna","lastName":"DINNYÉS","suffix":""},{"id":511370374,"identity":"d88b5928-c3f5-4bc3-b7a3-6b266fc03bf1","order_by":1,"name":"Henriette PUSZTAFALVI","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Pecs","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Henriette","middleName":"","lastName":"PUSZTAFALVI","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-08-25 18:53:19","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7456428/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7456428/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":90899379,"identity":"3395c52a-2d9c-49f3-b499-093b0ba51df0","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-09-09 11:59:29","extension":"jpg","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":103782,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eHealth attitudes and behaviours among young adults (N=563)\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"1.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7456428/v1/3c8895d24d7712fb1ea1a7c1.jpg"},{"id":90899373,"identity":"118684f0-1801-4ed9-8323-490c0038f7b5","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-09-09 11:59:29","extension":"jpg","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":115850,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eImportance and implementation of value preferences among young adults (N=563)\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"2.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7456428/v1/e725b73c35c57c86e4497a09.jpg"},{"id":100949646,"identity":"6f01a77f-72ad-4cae-a74e-e12c1804868d","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-01-23 07:04:47","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":687912,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7456428/v1/c210f988-aeed-400e-b161-9edb77e5415e.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Young Women’s Value Preferences, Health Behaviour, Well-Being and Life Satisfaction","fulltext":[{"header":"Background","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe value system is one of the most important foundations of personality and society, determining the choices, behaviours and lifestyles of individuals. Classical theories of values [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e21\u003c/span\u003e] emphasise that values provide a stable yet changing framework for our everyday lives, determining what we value and the direction in which we shape our lives. The functions of values include providing motivational orientation, regulating behaviour and ensuring social belonging. Research shows that young people's values are constantly changing in response to social, economic and cultural changes [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e]. Schwartz's theory of values classifies values along universal categories and presents a hierarchical and circular structure [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e21\u003c/span\u003e]. According to the model, the dynamics between values, such as the contrasting pairs of openness and conservatism, self-actualisation and self-enhancement, fundamentally influence young adults' choices and life choices. Value preferences thus determine not only individual but also societal attitudes towards, for example, health, prevention or community involvement. The study of young people's health behaviour cannot be divorced from the national traditions and institutional framework of health education [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHealth is one of the most frequently highlighted core values and plays a dominant role in the hierarchy of value preferences. According to the WHO definition of health, health is not only the absence of disease but also a state of physical, mental and social well-being [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e]. Health as a value provides a fundamental orientation not only for the prevention and treatment of disease but also for everyday life management [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e]. Research has shown that young adults who value health more highly are more aware of their lifestyle and are more likely to participate in preventive activities [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e]. In the context of health as a value, impulsivity is also closely associated with substance use and risk-taking behaviour [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e]. A historical review of health education in Hungary revealed that the transmission of health as a value has long been part of education and social institutions [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e]. This confirms the finding that the perception of health in young people's values is not only the result of individual choices but also shaped by wider cultural and institutional influences.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eYoung adulthood is a crucial stage in the life course, during which individuals gradually develop their own value systems and establish patterns of life choices that influence their quality of life and health behaviour in the long term. According to Erikson's psychosocial theory of development, this is a period in which the search for identity, autonomy and the assumption of social roles are predominant [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e]. The choices made in young adulthood, such as study, mate choice and employment, significantly shape value preferences and contribute to determining life course direction [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e]. The value system at this stage of life attests to both stability and variability. Stability is linked to the norms previously acquired during socialisation, whereas variability results from adaptation to the social and cultural context. Domestic studies have shown that Hungarian adults value family, security and health but also increasingly value freedom, self-actualisation and success orientation [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eInternational comparative studies [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e21\u003c/span\u003e] describe a shift in the values of young generations towards postmaterial values: welfare, environmental sustainability, human rights and self-expression are increasingly emphasised. However, youth surveys among Hungarian youth [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e26\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e27\u003c/span\u003e] have shown that traditional values, such as the importance of the family, remain dominant but that freedom and independence are also gaining importance in line with global trends. Value preferences are closely linked to everyday lifestyles. Among young adults, decision-making plays a key role: decisions related to healthy lifestyles (e.g., exercise, nutrition, avoidance of harmful addictions) are directly reflected in their value systems [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e]. Research has shown that young people who place health among their most important values are more likely to have conscious prevention strategies and to take better care of their physical and mental well-being [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e]. The social environment also plays a significant role in shaping young adults' values. Peers, social media and educational institutions all strongly influence the formation of value preferences. Intense presence in the online space facilitates the internalisation of global values but can also increase the uncertainty associated with searching for identity [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe international literature highlights the close link between value preferences and personality traits. For example, the five main personality dimensions (the Big Five: openness (O), conscientiousness (C), extraversion (E), friendliness (A) and neuroticism/emotional instability [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e]) influence how individuals experience health-related decisions. Extraversion and openness personality types are more likely to be associated with positive health behaviours, whereas high levels of neuroticism tend to be associated with negative attitudes and lower well-being [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e22\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e24\u003c/span\u003e]. These personality traits are particularly important for young adults, as decisions are less fixed and are intensely shaped by the social and educational environment. The perception of health as a value is closely linked to attitudes toward prevention and daily living. Research has shown that young people who have health-oriented values are more likely to participate in screening, avoid harmful addictions and engage in regular physical activity [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e24\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e27\u003c/span\u003e]. In contrast, the impact of the media in today's digital environment is not negligible, as health-related information and patterns that circulate online can have a major impact on shaping young people's attitudes, sometimes in positive and sometimes in negative ways [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e]. Research has suggested that young people often show a strong commitment to health but that this commitment is not always consistently reflected in their behaviour. In the psychology literature, this phenomenon is described by the theory of the 'intention-action gap', which suggests that although the intention to make healthy choices may be high, a number of factors, such as a lack of clear decision-making skills, peer pressure or media influence, may hinder actual behaviour [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e]. International longitudinal studies have also shown that young people's values, such as substance use, can determine their health behaviour in the long term [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e25\u003c/span\u003e]. The effects of public health programmes need to be understood in a complex way, as in addition to positive outcomes, there may also be adverse side effects, such as increased stigma or anxiety [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e]. These findings confirm that health promotion interventions should be designed not only to positively reinforce values and attitudes but also to mitigate potential unintended consequences. In the Hungarian context, it is important to note that programmes aimed at reducing social disadvantage, such as increasing employment and improving quality of life, are closely related to public health outcomes and attitudes towards health. The experience of a project in Hungary showed that increasing employment opportunities among disadvantaged groups can contribute to better quality of life and social inclusion, which indirectly supports the perception of health as a value [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Methods","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eStudy\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe study was conducted in a cross-sectional, quantitative research design using a self-completed, anonymous questionnaire. Participation was voluntary, and the respondents were free to discontinue completion at any time.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eParticipants\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe target population consisted of young adults and students in higher education. The inclusion criterion was active student status (full-time or part-time). A total of 590 people started to complete the questionnaire, 563 of whom provided a complete response and were included in the final analysis. Recruitment was carried out through the Rectors of all Hungarian universities, which forwarded the questionnaire link sent with the research permit to their students.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMeasuring instruments\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe questionnaire contains 66 questions, including validated measurement instruments:\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eSociodemographic data: sex, age, place of residence, and type of education.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eValues: the IRVS Values Importance and Achievement List (VALL).\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eHealth attitudes: the Health Attitudes Questionnaire (HAC).\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eSatisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS-H).\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eOverall quality of life: EQ-5D-5 L questionnaire.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003ePsychological well-being: WHO Well-Being Index (WBI-5).\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003ePersonality dimensions: Big Five Inventory.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eHealth behaviour: questions on smoking and alcohol consumption.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eReliability\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe reliability of the measures used was assessed via Cronbach's alpha values as an indicator of internal consistency. The scorecard (IRVS scorecard) demonstrated excellent reliability in both the importance (α\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.913) and implementation (α\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.949) dimensions. Additionally, high internal consistency was indicated by the SWLS-H, a scale measuring life satisfaction (α\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.871), and the WHO well-being scale (α\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.871). The internal consistency was found to be medium (α\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.675) for the EQ-5D-5 L quality-of-life scale (α\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.618), whereas the EQ-5D-5 L quality-of-life scale had a lower but still acceptable reliability value (α\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.618). These results indicate acceptable or excellent internal consistency.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec7\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eStatistical analysis\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eData collection took place between 2 March 2024 and 6 June 2024. The data were processed via IBM SPSS Statistics 26.0 and Microsoft Excel 2010. In addition to descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, frequency, percentage distribution), normality tests were performed via the Kolmogorov‒Smirnov test. The nonparametric tests used were the Mann‒Whitney U test and Wilcoxon signed rank test. Spearman rank correlation was used to explore correlations. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to structure the value dimensions. All analyses were performed with two-sided tests with 95% confidence intervals; the level of statistical significance was set at p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05. In the case of nonresponse, questionnaires were excluded from the analysis via the listwise method.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec8\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eEthical considerations\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePermission to conduct this study was granted by the Scientific and Research Ethics Committee of the Health Science Board (Permit No. BM/26566-1/2023). All parts of the study complied with the ethical principles set out in the Declaration of Helsinki. The participants were informed in writing before completion, and their willingness to participate was confirmed via electronic consent.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eData access\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eData generated during the study will be made available in a nonidentifiable format upon reasonable request from the corresponding author.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Results","content":"\u003cp\u003eA total of 563 young adults participated in the survey, of whom 122 were men (21.7%) and 437 were women (77.6%), whereas 4 (0.7%) did not wish to answer this question. The vast majority of the sample is female, so we do not distinguish between men and women in our results. The average age of the respondents was 27.6 years (SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;9.9), which is representative of the young adult age group. In terms of marital status, the majority of the respondents were single (35%), while a smaller proportion were cohabiting or married (7%), and a small proportion were divorced or widowed. The breakdown by place of residence indicates that approximately 60% of the respondents live in a city and 40% in a smaller town, indicating social diversity in the sample. The spatial distribution reflects a varied picture, with the largest number of respondents living in the North Great Plains (26%), a significant number of respondents from the South Great Plains (21%), Central Hungary (Pest County, with Budapest as the capital, 20%), and regions of Central Transdanubia (11%) and South Transdanubia (8%) showing a lower propensity to respond and the lowest number of responses from North Hungary (5%).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe largest proportion of participants were in medical and health sciences, accounting for 32.0% of the sample. There is also a significant proportion of students in teacher education (22.6%). Students in the humanities (8.3%), agriculture (8.3%) and economics (7.3%) also represented a significant group. The technical (6.6%) and social science (5.7%) fields of study are moderately represented, whereas a smaller proportion of students are in computer science (3.2%), natural sciences (1.8%) and law (1.6%). There is a significant proportion of students in arts (0.9%), theology (0.4%), engineering (0.4%), sociology (0.4%), therapeutic pedagogy (0.4%), pharmacy (0.2%) and sports science (0.2%).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe majority of the respondents lived in urban areas (47.6%), while the proportion of rural/community/rural residents was 28% overall. There is also a significant group of people living in the county capital, accounting for 24.3% of the respondents.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(Fig.\u0026nbsp;1 here)\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFigure 1 results show that respondents' health behaviours are mostly reflected in the avoidance of harmful addictions and support for prevention, while there are gaps in lifestyle factors, especially alcohol consumption, emotional balance and subjective health; however, overall, the health behaviours of the sample are very positive.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFigure 2 illustrates the values of our respondents (two dimensions of the IRVS value scale: importance and achievement).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(Fig.\u0026nbsp;2 here)\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the importance dimension, the highest average scores were given to health and safety (4.8) and to honesty, family, happiness, honesty and kindness (4.7). The respondents also rated the categories of meaning, love of life, freedom and autonomy (4.6) as highly important. At the other end of the scale, authority (3.6), originality (3.9) and modesty (4.1) were rated the lowest in importance. In the implementation dimension, the most implemented values were goodness of heart (4.6), honesty and sincerity (4.5) and intelligence (4.5). In the midfield are family (4.2), autonomy (4.2), health (4.1) and achievement (4.1). The lowest values are authority (3.6), well-being (3.8) and success (3.8). For the young adults we surveyed, health, security and family are the most important values, whereas in the actual realisation dimension, the goodness of heart, honesty and sincerity are the most important values. In both dimensions, authority and material values received the lowest average scores.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA discrepancy between students' value preferences and their actual lived and practiced values is confirmed (based on the Wilcoxon signed rank test (T\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;54851 Z = -12.528 p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.000 (1-tailed)). The difference in the median values (Mdn\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;107 for importance, Mdn\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;100 for realisation) suggests that although the majority of the values studied are considered by students to be extremely important, the practical realisation of these values is already present in their lives at a lower level. The significant difference demonstrates that this difference is not random but rather has a consistent pattern among participants. This is in line with our previous results, which can be seen in the graph, as while health, safety, family and honesty scored very high in the importance dimension, the realisation dimension is more dominated by kindness, honesty and modesty; thus, other factors are more prominent in life management.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS-H) consists of five items (min 5\u0026ndash;max 30) that measure subjective perceptions of quality of life. On the basis of the mean score of the respondents (M\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;21.3), overall, the respondents had a positive attitude. The highest mean scores were given to the statements \"My life is close to ideal in most respects\" and \"I am satisfied with my life\", suggesting that a significant proportion of respondents feel that their overall living conditions are in line with their expectations. Similarly, the statement \"If I could live my life over again, I would change almost nothing\", which is an indicator of overall satisfaction with life and choices, was also rated positively. Lower, but still positive, scores were found for the statements \"My living conditions are excellent\" and \"I have had everything I wanted in life thus far\". This suggests that although respondents are generally satisfied, they may still perceive gaps in certain financial, social or life situation factors. The results of the SWLS-H scale show that, on average, the study sample has a high level of satisfaction with life, mainly supported by satisfaction with the overall quality of life and the way their life is going, but with a lower level of perceived deficits in the dimensions of life circumstances and the achievement of desired goals.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe WHO Well-Being Questionnaire (WBI-5) consists of five items and focuses on how respondents have felt about themselves over the past two weeks. The items measure the experience of positive psychological states: cheerfulness and cheerfulness, calm and relaxed, active and alert, fresh and energetic on waking, and the experience of an interesting and eventful daily life. The respondents rated the extent to which they felt this way on a four-point Likert scale (1\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;not at all, 4\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;very much). A higher score indicates better subjective well-being, and the results should be interpreted in aggregate (min. 5 - max. 20). Our results indicate that the average well-being level of respondents is considered medium (M\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;10.1). The emotional well-being of the group is well balanced, with positive emotions (cheerfulness, cheerfulness) predominating, whereas the indicators for energy and rest are weaker, which may reflect the influence of lifestyle and psychological factors.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Big Five personality dimension scale measures five personality traits, and the highest scores in the study sample were for conscientiousness (37), friendliness (37) and openness (37). This suggests that respondents are characterised by a sense of responsibility for rules and obligations, a desire to cooperate with others and to work in harmony, and receptiveness to new experiences. A moderately high value of extraversion (33) indicates moderate sociability, openness and energy levels but is not a dominant personality trait for all respondents. The lowest score was for neuroticism (27), indicating relatively low emotional instability and a tendency toward anxiety. These findings indicate that the study group is emotionally stable and less prone to negative emotional states and adverse reactions to stress. Our research shows that students in higher education are conscientious, friendly, open, and moderately extraverted, while their emotional stability is relatively strong. This combination may be a supportive factor for academic performance, social relationships and health behaviour.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe aim of our research was to explore the relationships between the importance and implementation of a value system and health behaviour, quality of life and subjective well-being. We analysed the relationships between the values that respondents considered most important and the way in which they actually lived these values and their relationships with everyday health behaviours (e.g., nutrition, physical activity, prevention, avoidance of harmful addictions) and with indicators of psychological well-being and quality of life.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTo support our work, we also conducted correlation analyses and first hypothesised that higher levels of awareness and adherence to a value system would be positively associated with positive health behaviours, better subjective health and higher life satisfaction, whereas a negative association could be assumed for harmful habits (e.g., alcohol consumption, smoking). The aim of the correlation analysis was to demonstrate that stable and implemented values are protective factors in maintaining physical and mental health. Nutrition (importance: r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.188 p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001; achievement: r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.210 p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001), regular physical activity (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.078 p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001; r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.127 p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001) and prevention (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.149 p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001; r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.242 p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001) clearly show that the greater the level of awareness and/or experience of the value system is, the greater the degree to which positive health behaviours are associated. A strong relationship is observed with subjective health (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.162 p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001; r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.314 p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001) and emotional equilibrium (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.159 p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001; r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.375 p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001), suggesting that a stable value system and its practical implementation directly contribute to better health perceptions and psychological well-being. Well-being (WBI; r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.255 p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001; r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.390 p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001) and life satisfaction (SWLS; r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.221 p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001; r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.401 p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001) also showed strong positive correlations, highlighting the role of values in determining subjective quality of life. The importance dimension was weakly but significantly negatively correlated with alcohol consumption (r=-0.093 p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.013), whereas there was no significant correlation with the achievement dimension. Aggression also showed a weak negative relationship with the importance dimension (r=-0.077 p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.034) but was not significant in the implementation dimension. There was a negative association with the EQ-5D-5 L quality of life indicator (r=-0.227 p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001; r=-0.375 p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001), which is due to the specificity of the measure (a lower score for the EQ-5D-5 L indicates better quality of life).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo significant relationship was found below. There was no strong or consistent relationship with the scoring system for the dimensions of smoking, substance abuse aversion, or telephone and internet use. The results clearly show that value systems, particularly their implementation, are strongly associated with positive health behaviours, positive subjective health perceptions, well-being and life satisfaction. This finding indicates that values, consciously adopted and put into practice, are powerful protective factors in maintaining physical and mental health.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOur second hypothesis focused specifically on the role of health as a value in different variables. When the importance and realisation of health were examined, both dimensions showed significant correlations with the variables under study but with different strengths. Health importance was positively associated with several health behaviours, such as nutrition (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.247; p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001), regular physical activity (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.194; p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001), preventive behaviour (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.251; p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001), subjective health (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.159; p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001) and emotional equilibrium (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.156; p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001). It was also strongly associated with life satisfaction (SWLS; r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.180; p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001) and subjective well-being (WBI; r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.208; p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001). Health attainment was strongly correlated with preventive behaviour (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.243; p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001), subjective health (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.270; p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001) and emotional well-being (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.298; p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001), as were life satisfaction (SWLS; r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.292; p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001) and well-being (WBI; r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.262; p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001).\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusions","content":"\u003cp\u003eInvestigating the relationship between young adults' values and health behaviour is of particular importance from a public health perspective, as it is at this stage of life that the patterns of decision-making that determine quality of life in the long term are formed. International longitudinal studies have shown that young people's values influence their health behaviour, such as substance use, in the longer term [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e25\u003c/span\u003e]. Other studies have shown that the development of health behaviour is shaped by a combination of ability, opportunity and motivation and that differences in these factors may explain inconsistencies in preventive and health-promoting behaviour [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e24\u003c/span\u003e]. Moreover, the effects of public health interventions need to be interpreted in a nuanced way, as positive outcomes may be accompanied by negative side effects, such as stigmatisation or increased anxiety [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e]. The findings confirm the importance of considering the complex effects of interventions in addition to promoting value preferences when promoting health in young adults.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe results of the study clearly show that health is a high priority in young adults' values but that there is evidence of a gap between importance and implementation. While health, safety and family are declared central values, in everyday practice, they are more likely to be expressed in terms of kindness, honesty and sincerity. The results show that higher levels of value awareness and its consistent implementation are strongly associated with positive health behaviours, better subjective health, emotional balance and higher well-being and life satisfaction.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe negative correlations, especially in the case of alcohol consumption and aggression, suggest that internalised values can be a protective factor in reducing harmful behaviours. The results of the Big Five personality dimensions also confirm that positive personality traits (conscientiousness, friendliness, extraversion, openness) promote the internalisation of values, whereas high neuroticism is more of a hindering factor.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOur correlational analyses show that both the importance and the implementation of the value system are significantly positively related to several dimensions of health behaviour, as well as to indicators of subjective well-being and life satisfaction. There are stronger positive correlations with preventive behaviour, nutrition, subjective health and emotional well-being. Similarly, there are strong correlations with indicators of well-being and life satisfaction. Negative correlations are found with alcohol consumption and partly with aggression, suggesting that stable values may act as a protective factor in reducing harmful behaviours. A significant negative correlation was also found with the EQ-5D-5 L quality of life indicator due to the specificity of the measure, where a lower score indicates a better quality of life. The Big Five personality dimensions revealed that conscientiousness, extraversion, friendliness and partial openness (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.088; p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.018) were positively related to the importance of the value system, whereas neuroticism showed a weak negative correlation. These results support the idea that positive personality traits (e.g., emotional stability, conscientiousness) promote the internalisation and practical/everyday manifestation of values. Our results suggest that although the emphasis on health as a value is itself positively associated with positive health behaviours and psychological indicators, the actual realisation of health has an even stronger impact. This suggests that not only the declaration of the importance of health but also its consistent implementation in everyday life is a real protective factor for quality of life and subjective well-being.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOur findings suggest that health promotion programmes should not only communicate health as a value but also support its actual implementation in young people's everyday lives. Emphasis should be placed on the consistent implementation of values in behaviour, alongside conscious lifestyle choices, prevention and the strengthening of psychological well-being. The message of the research is that health as a value is not only important at the level of declaration but also becomes a real protective factor when it is translated into everyday choices and life choices. In the long term, this approach can contribute to improving the quality of life of young adults and to strengthening the health status of society. In the future, complex, value-oriented programmes are needed to promote the experience of health not only at a conscious level but also in the behaviour and lifestyle of adolescents.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthics approval and consent to participate\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe study was approved by the Scientific and Research Ethics Committee of the Medical Research Council, Hungary (approval number: BM/26566-1/2023). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to data collection.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTrial number\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTrial registration: BM/26566-1/2023\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOther clinical trial number: Not applicable.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConsent for publication\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot applicable.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvailability of data and materials\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompeting interests\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors declare that they have no competing interests.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026ldquo;SUPPORTED BY THE \u0026Uacute;NKP-23-4-I-PTE-1796 NEW NATIONAL EXCELLENCE PROGRAM OF THE MINISTRY FOR CULTURE AND INNOVATION FROM THE SOURCE OF THE NATIONAL RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION FUND. THE PROJECT 2024-2.1.1-EK\u0026Ouml;P FUNDED BY THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND INNOVATION, NATIONAL FUND FOR RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION, UNDER THE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH GRANT \u0026nbsp;PROGRAMME EK\u0026Ouml;P-24-1.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthors\u0026rsquo; contributions\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eD.K. designed the study, collected and analysed the data, and drafted the manuscript. P.H. contributed to the methodology, interpretation of results, and critically revised the manuscript. Both authors read and approved the final manuscript.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgements\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors would like to thank the participating students for their time and contribution to this research.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthors\u0026rsquo; information\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAuthors\u0026rsquo; information\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eD.K. is a health visitor and health promotion teacher with extensive expertise in youth health behaviour, oral health, and preventive health research. She holds a PhD absolutorium in health sciences and educational sciences and is actively engaged in teaching, research, and talent development in higher education. She is also a debate leader, trainer, and mentor, promoting critical thinking and communication skills in health education. She has been recognised with the TDK Excellent Educator Award and currently serves as President of the Psychology and Educational Science Section of the National Association of Doctoral Students (DOSZ). D.K. continuously publishes international, peer-reviewed articles in English, with a strong focus on values, health consciousness, and prevention in shaping health behaviour.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eP.H. is a researcher in the field of behavioural sciences and health promotion.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eArnett JJ. Emerging adulthood: a theory of development from the late teens through the twenties. Am Psychol. 2000;55(5):469-80. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.55.5.469\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBonell C, Jamal F, Melendez-Torres GJ, Cummins S. Dark logic: theorising the harmful consequences of public health interventions. BMC Public Health. 2021;21:206. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10365-8\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConner M, Norman P. Understanding the intention\u0026ndash;behaviour gap: the role of intention strength. Front Psychol. 2022;13:923464. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.923464\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCosta PT Jr, McCrae RR. Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI-R) and NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) professional manual. Odessa (FL): Psychological Assessment Resources; 1992.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEuroQol Research Foundation. EQ-5D-5 L Eg\u0026eacute;szs\u0026eacute;gi k\u0026eacute;rdő\u0026iacute;v [Hungarian]. Available from: https://tm-centre.org/download/article-realated/191/egeszsegi-kerdoiv-0808102248.pdf. Accessed 25 Aug 2025.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eErikson EH. Identity: youth and crisis. New York (NY): W. W. Norton \u0026amp; Company; 1968.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFaries MD. Why we don\u0026rsquo;t \u0026ldquo;just do it\u0026rdquo;: understanding the intention\u0026ndash;behavior gap in lifestyle medicine. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2016;10(5):322-9. https://doi.org/10.1177/1559827616638017\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFeith HJ, Falus A, editors. Eg\u0026eacute;szs\u0026eacute;gfejleszt\u0026eacute;s \u0026eacute;s nevel\u0026eacute;s [Health promotion and education]. Budapest: Akad\u0026eacute;miai Kiad\u0026oacute;; 2019. https://doi.org/10.1556/9789634544456. [Hungarian]\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHofmeister-T\u0026oacute;th \u0026Aacute;, Neulinger \u0026Aacute;. A fogyaszt\u0026oacute;v\u0026aacute; v\u0026aacute;l\u0026aacute;s folyamata Magyarorsz\u0026aacute;gon, OTKA kutat\u0026aacute;si tanulm\u0026aacute;ny [The process of becoming a consumer in Hungary, OTKA research report]. Budapest: Budapesti Corvinus Egyetem; 2009. Available from: http://real.mtak.hu/2626/1/62605_ZJ1.pdf. Accessed 25 Aug 2025. [Hungarian]\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInglehart R, Welzel C. Modernisation, cultural change, and democracy: the human development sequence. New York (NY): Cambridge University Press; 2005.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eM\u0026aacute;lovics \u0026Eacute;. V\u0026aacute;llalkoz\u0026aacute;spszichol\u0026oacute;gia [Entrepreneurship psychology]. Szeged: Szegedi Tudom\u0026aacute;nyegyetem; 2020. Available from: http://eta.bibl.u-szeged.hu/3710/1/EFOP343_AP6_V%C3%A1llalkoz%C3%A1spszichol%C3%B3gia_02_Olvas%C3%B3lecke_M%C3%A1lovics_%C3%89va_20200707.pdf. Accessed 25 Aug 2025. [Hungarian]\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMeisznern\u0026eacute; Kuklek N, Cs\u0026eacute;plő M, Pozsonyi E, Pusztafalvi H. Raising employment and quality of life among people with disadvantages: results of a Hungarian project. BMC Public Health. 2021;21:1739. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11763-z\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMeleg Cs. Iskolai eg\u0026eacute;szs\u0026eacute;gnevel\u0026eacute;s: a feladat \u0026uacute;jrafogalmaz\u0026aacute;sa [School health education: reformulating the task]. Magy Pedag\u0026oacute;gia. 2002;102(1):11-29. Available from: http://www.magyarpedagogia.hu/document/csilla_meleg-school_based_health_education_reformulating_the_task.pdf. Accessed 25 Aug 2025. [Hungarian]\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eP\u0026aacute;l E. \u0026Eacute;rt\u0026eacute;kkutat\u0026aacute;sok \u0026ndash; a fiatalok sz\u0026aacute;m\u0026aacute;ra fontos \u0026eacute;rt\u0026eacute;kek [Value research \u0026ndash; values important to young people]. 2016. Available from: https://emok.hu/en/component/docs/d-491:ertekkutatasok---a-fiatalok-szamara-fontos-ertekek%3Fformat%3Dpdf. Accessed 25 Aug 2025. [Hungarian]\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eP\u0026aacute;lmai J. A holisztikus eg\u0026eacute;szs\u0026eacute;gfogalom fel\u0026eacute; [Towards a holistic concept of health]. In: Lippai L, editor. Holisztikus eg\u0026eacute;szs\u0026eacute;g, eg\u0026eacute;szs\u0026eacute;gmagatart\u0026aacute;s \u0026eacute;s eg\u0026eacute;szs\u0026eacute;gfejleszt\u0026eacute;s. Szeged: Szegedi Tudom\u0026aacute;nyegyetem Juh\u0026aacute;sz Gyula Pedag\u0026oacute;gusk\u0026eacute;pző Kar; 2017. p. 33-9. Available from: http://eta.bibl.u-szeged.hu/437/1/testmozgas_001.pdf. Accessed 25 Aug 2025. [Hungarian]\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePapageorgiou A, Fisher C, Cross D. \u0026ldquo;Why don\u0026rsquo;t I look like her?\u0026rdquo; How adolescent girls view social media and its connection to body image. BMC Womens Health. 2022;22:261. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-022-01845-4\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePavluska E. Az eg\u0026eacute;szs\u0026eacute;g mint \u0026eacute;rt\u0026eacute;k a magyar t\u0026aacute;rsadalomban [Health as a value in Hungarian society]. P\u0026eacute;cs: P\u0026eacute;csi Tudom\u0026aacute;nyegyetem; 2015. Available from: https://ktk.pte.hu/sites/ktk.pte.hu/files/images/szervezet/intezetek/mti/pavluska_az_egeszseg_mint_ertek_a_magyar_tarsadalomban_2015.pdf. Accessed 25 Aug 2025. [Hungarian]\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePik\u0026oacute; B, Brassai L. Values and health risk behaviours among Hungarian youth. J Early Adolesc. 2007;27(3):309-24. https://doi.org/10.1177/0272431607302006\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRokeach M. The nature of human values. New York (NY): Free Press; 1973.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eR\u0026oacute;zsa S, K\u0026aacute;lm\u0026aacute;n R, Kő N, Nagy H, Fi\u0026aacute;th T, Ol\u0026aacute;h A. Az \u0026eacute;rzelmi arcfelismer\u0026eacute;s m\u0026eacute;r\u0026eacute;se \u0026eacute;s jelentős\u0026eacute;ge a pszichol\u0026oacute;giai kutat\u0026aacute;sokban: az Ekman 60 Arc Teszttel szerzett hazai tapasztalatok [Measuring emotional face recognition and its significance in psychological research: Hungarian experience with the Ekman 60 Faces Test]. Pszichol\u0026oacute;gia. 2012;32(3):229-51. [Hungarian]\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSchwartz SH. Universals in the content and structure of values: theoretical advances and empirical tests in 20 countries. Adv Exp Soc Psychol. 1992;25:1-65. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2601(08)60281-6\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStrickhouser JE, Zell E, Krizan Z. Does personality predict health and well-being? A metasynthesis. Health Psychol. 2017;36(8):797-810. https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000475\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTigyin\u0026eacute; Pusztafalvi H. Az eg\u0026eacute;szs\u0026eacute;gnevel\u0026eacute;s int\u0026eacute;zm\u0026eacute;nyes\u0026uuml;l\u0026eacute;s\u0026eacute;nek t\u0026ouml;rt\u0026eacute;nete [The history of institutionalisation of health education]. Educatio. 2013;22(2):224-34. [Hungarian]\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWillmott TJ, Pang B, Rundle-Thiele S. Capability, opportunity, and motivation: an across contexts empirical examination of the COM-B model. BMC Public Health. 2021;21:1014. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11019-w\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYoung R, West P. Do \u0026ldquo;good values\u0026rdquo; lead to \u0026ldquo;good\u0026rdquo; health behaviours? Longitudinal associations between young people\u0026apos;s values and later substance use. BMC Public Health. 2010;10:165. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-10-165\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSzab\u0026oacute; K. Eg\u0026eacute;szs\u0026eacute;g\u0026uuml;gy a trianoni Magyarorsz\u0026aacute;gon. In: Kapronczay K, editor. Orvost\u0026ouml;rt\u0026eacute;neti K\u0026ouml;zlem\u0026eacute;nyek. 2014. p. 226\u0026ndash;9. Available from: https://library.hungaricana.hu/hu/view/ORSZ_ORVO_OK_2014_226_229/?pg=186\u0026amp;layout=s \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePik\u0026oacute; B. Az \u0026eacute;letm\u0026oacute;d elemei: szabadidő \u0026eacute;s az eg\u0026eacute;szs\u0026eacute;g-magatart\u0026aacute;s. In: Barab\u0026aacute;s K, szerk. Eg\u0026eacute;szs\u0026eacute;gfejleszt\u0026eacute;s: Alapismeretek pedag\u0026oacute;gusok sz\u0026aacute;m\u0026aacute;ra. Budapest: Medicina; 2006.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7456428/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7456428/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIntroduction\u003c/strong\u003e: According to national and international research, health is a core value, but there is often a discrepancy between its importance and its practical implementation. The aim of the present study was to explore the relationships between the values of young adult higher education students and their health behaviour, quality of life and subjective well-being.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaterials and Methods:\u003c/strong\u003e A total of 563 respondents (122 men, 21.7%; 437 women, 77.6%) were interviewed in our cross-sectional study, with a mean age of 27.6 years (SD=9.9). Several validated measurement instruments were used in our study: the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS-H), the IRVS Values Importance and Realisation List, the Health Related Attitudes Questionnaire (HACQ), the EQ-5D-5 L Quality of Life Questionnaire, the WHO Well-Being Index (WBI-5), and the Big Five Personality Dimensions Measure. The data were processed via IBM SPSS 26.0 and Excel. Spearman correlation, Wilcoxon tests, Mann-Whitney U tests and Kolmogorov‒Smirnov tests were used for statistical analyses (p\u0026lt;0.05).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eResults\u003c/strong\u003e: Health, safety and family were found to be the most important values for the participants, whereas good heartedness, honesty and integrity were more likely to lead in implementation. A significant difference was found between the importance of these values and their actual realisation (p\u0026lt;0.001). Both the importance and realisation of the value system were positively associated with positive health behaviours, particularly diet (r=0.188 0.210; p\u0026lt;0.001), physical activity (r=0.078 0.127; p\u0026lt;0.001) and preventive behaviour (r=0.149 0.242); p\u0026lt;0.001), as well as with subjective health (r=0.162 0.314; p\u0026lt;0.001), emotional well-being (r=0.159 0.375; p\u0026lt;0.001), well-being (r=0.255 0.390; p\u0026lt;0.001) and life satisfaction (r=0.221 0.401; p\u0026lt;0.001). A negative relationship was found between alcohol consumption and aggression.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConclusions\u003c/strong\u003e: Our results suggest that health is a priority for young adult students but that there are gaps in its practical implementation. A stable and consistently enforced value system is a strong protective factor for positive health behaviour, increased well-being and life satisfaction. This research highlights the need for value-based health promotion among students in higher education.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Young Women’s Value Preferences, Health Behaviour, Well-Being and Life Satisfaction","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-09-09 11:59:25","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7456428/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"f691236d-78e9-4ecd-a4d5-426ab1a99da5","owner":[],"postedDate":"September 9th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-01-22T08:55:44+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-09-09 11:59:25","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7456428","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7456428","identity":"rs-7456428","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}