Health promotion in young people: Identifying the predisposing factors of self-care health habits.

Unhealthy behaviors are strongly associated with chronic diseases, disabilities, or mortality. Identifying the predisposing factors that influence on self-care healthy habits will improve an early detection of high-risk groups. Four hundred and sixty-six Spanish young people aged 18-25 years were assessed. Global perceived health self-care was predicted by Value of health and Conscientiousness, both in females ( R ²  = 0.185; F  = 29.661; p  < 0.001) and males ( R ²  = 0.154; F  = 17.849; p  < 0.001). The results have shown gender differences in health self-care habits. Health promotion policies should include specific health consciousness-based strategies.