Multiple behavioural risk factors and mental health among adults in Estonia

AimExtensive evidence demonstrates the link between health behaviour and mental health. However, the impact of coinciding behavioural risk factors on mental health outcomes has received less attention. This study addresses this gap by analysing multiple behavioural risk factors and their association...

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Main Authors: Galina Opikova, Rainer Reile, Kenn Konstabel, Kristjan Kask
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1600598/full
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author Galina Opikova
Galina Opikova
Rainer Reile
Kenn Konstabel
Kristjan Kask
author_facet Galina Opikova
Galina Opikova
Rainer Reile
Kenn Konstabel
Kristjan Kask
author_sort Galina Opikova
collection DOAJ
description AimExtensive evidence demonstrates the link between health behaviour and mental health. However, the impact of coinciding behavioural risk factors on mental health outcomes has received less attention. This study addresses this gap by analysing multiple behavioural risk factors and their association with mental health.Subject and methodsNationally representative data (n = 6,404) from 2020 cross-sectional survey in Estonia was used to examine patterns of co-occurring behavioural risk factors, including smoking, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, drug use, and high screen time. Latent class analysis (LCA) was employed to identify behavioural classes, and binomial logistic regression was used to examine associations between predicted individual class membership and self-reported mental health outcomes, such as depressiveness, stress, suicidal thoughts, diagnoses of depression and insomnia, and medication use.ResultsLCA identified three behavioural classes: multiple risk factors (14.6%), low-risk lifestyle (79.9%), and drug use lifestyle (5.5%). Compared to individuals in the low-risk lifestyle class, respondents in the multiple risk factors and drug use classes had higher odds of experiencing depressiveness, stress, and suicidal thoughts, as well as self-reported diagnoses of depression and insomnia; they also exhibited increased use of medications, such as antidepressants, hypnotics, and sedatives.ConclusionBehavioural risk classes were associated with adverse mental health outcomes. These findings emphasise the importance of focused interventions targeting these risk factors to address the risk of mental health problems.
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spelling doaj-art-1a7911e4fb8f40489ec45719b0df779d2025-08-20T03:12:05ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-07-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.16005981600598Multiple behavioural risk factors and mental health among adults in EstoniaGalina Opikova0Galina Opikova1Rainer Reile2Kenn Konstabel3Kristjan Kask4Institute of Natural Sciences and Health, Tallinn University, Tallinn, EstoniaDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, EstoniaDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, EstoniaDepartment of Chronic Diseases, National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, EstoniaInstitute of Natural Sciences and Health, Tallinn University, Tallinn, EstoniaAimExtensive evidence demonstrates the link between health behaviour and mental health. However, the impact of coinciding behavioural risk factors on mental health outcomes has received less attention. This study addresses this gap by analysing multiple behavioural risk factors and their association with mental health.Subject and methodsNationally representative data (n = 6,404) from 2020 cross-sectional survey in Estonia was used to examine patterns of co-occurring behavioural risk factors, including smoking, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, drug use, and high screen time. Latent class analysis (LCA) was employed to identify behavioural classes, and binomial logistic regression was used to examine associations between predicted individual class membership and self-reported mental health outcomes, such as depressiveness, stress, suicidal thoughts, diagnoses of depression and insomnia, and medication use.ResultsLCA identified three behavioural classes: multiple risk factors (14.6%), low-risk lifestyle (79.9%), and drug use lifestyle (5.5%). Compared to individuals in the low-risk lifestyle class, respondents in the multiple risk factors and drug use classes had higher odds of experiencing depressiveness, stress, and suicidal thoughts, as well as self-reported diagnoses of depression and insomnia; they also exhibited increased use of medications, such as antidepressants, hypnotics, and sedatives.ConclusionBehavioural risk classes were associated with adverse mental health outcomes. These findings emphasise the importance of focused interventions targeting these risk factors to address the risk of mental health problems.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1600598/fullbehavioural risk factorslifestylelatent class analysismental healthmental disorder (disease)
spellingShingle Galina Opikova
Galina Opikova
Rainer Reile
Kenn Konstabel
Kristjan Kask
Multiple behavioural risk factors and mental health among adults in Estonia
Frontiers in Public Health
behavioural risk factors
lifestyle
latent class analysis
mental health
mental disorder (disease)
title Multiple behavioural risk factors and mental health among adults in Estonia
title_full Multiple behavioural risk factors and mental health among adults in Estonia
title_fullStr Multiple behavioural risk factors and mental health among adults in Estonia
title_full_unstemmed Multiple behavioural risk factors and mental health among adults in Estonia
title_short Multiple behavioural risk factors and mental health among adults in Estonia
title_sort multiple behavioural risk factors and mental health among adults in estonia
topic behavioural risk factors
lifestyle
latent class analysis
mental health
mental disorder (disease)
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1600598/full
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