What predicts healthy lifestyle habits? Demographics, health and personality correlates of healthy lifestyle factors in New Zealand.

This study used data from the 2010 New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study (N = 4,441) to examine the demographic, health and personality correlates of healthy lifestyle habits among New Zealand adults. Participants reported their perceived importance of various behaviours (e.g. limiting salt, sugar intake) for leading a healthy lifestyle and regularity of engaging in them. Relative to importance ratings, considerably fewer people reported habitually engaging in positive health behaviours. Women, older, partnered individuals, those living with diabetes, high on Conscientiousness and Honesty-Humility showed increased regularity of healthy dietary behaviours. Māori and Pacific individuals, those living in highly deprived areas and with high BMI and Neuroticism showed reduced behaviour regularity. There were also important group differences in health-related perceptions (e.g. access to resources, social support to live healthy lifestyle). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]