Analysis of Health Behaviours and Personal Values

Preconception lifestyle modification and reducing several known risk factors may have 16 an influence on the future pregnancy outcome. The aim of the study was to analyse health behaviour 17 and personal values, as well as to assess the relationship of these factors in women without children, 18 in pregnant ones and in women who had already delivered babies. The questionnaire survey 19 included Health Behaviour Inventory (HBI), Personal Value List (PVL) and the sociodemographic 20 data and was conducted in 538 women. These women were divided into 3 groups: women who 21 recently delivered (n = 235), pregnant women (n = 121) and childless women (n = 182). Pregnant 22 women demonstrated a significantly higher level of declared health behaviours and also they rated 23 higher subscales values "positive mental attitude" and "health practices" in comparison to women 24 who recently delivered and to childless women. In all tested groups the highest rated personal value 25 was "a successful family life", while the most appreciated symbol of happiness was "love and 26 friendship". Our results suggest that the system of values and the perception of happiness symbols 27 may influence women's health behaviours. Positioning “health” in the hierarchy of personal values 28 as the most important one may facilitate introduction of healthy behaviours. This in turn could 29 reduce several adverse pregnancy outcomes that are potentially modifiable with changing 30 preconception health attitudes. Our results also identify several unanswered questions and 31 highlights areas where new research is needed. 32