Predictors of osteoporosis preventive behaviors among adolescent: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is a preventable progressive metabolic disease. Girls have an increased risk of occurrence of osteoporosis in their old age. The BASNEF model can be employed to change behaviors related to health. AIM OF THE STUDY: The BASNEF model was employed to determine the predictors of osteoporosis preventive behaviors among adolescent girls. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 209 adolescent girls selected from high schools in the Quchan County in 2016 using path analysis by stratified sampling. The data was collected through a demographic questionnaire and a 52-item researcher-made questionnaire, based on the BASNEF model constructs. The data was analyzed using Shapiro-Wilk test, bootstrapping, and path analysis. RESULTS: The average age of the students was 16.10 ±0.59. The results of path analysis showed that Model 1 matched the BASNEF model relationships completely; however, it could not predict osteoporosis preventive behaviors. The constructs of Model 2 (modified) was able to predict 50% of variances in osteoporosis preventive behaviors. There were positive and direct relationships between the following pairs of constructs: knowledge and attitudes (B = 0.23, p < 0.001); attitudes and the intention of osteoporosis preventive behaviors (B = 0.37, p < 0.001); subjective norms and the intention of osteoporosis preventive behaviors (B = 0.53, p < 0.001); behavioral intention and osteoporosis preventive behaviors (B = 0.36, p < 0.001); subjective norms and osteoporosis preventive behaviors (B = 0.33, p < 0.001), and enabling factors and osteoporosis preventive behaviors (B = 0.29, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The community health nurse can use the constructs of the BASNEF model to change the osteoporosis preventive behaviors like knowledge, attitudes subjective norms and enabling factors.