Abstract
Background
The change in the marital situation is recurrent in any society and is related to health behaviors. However, there are few studies on this topic in Latin America.
Objective
To verify the incidence of health protection behaviors according to changes in the marital situation, after four years, in people aged ≥40 years in a city in the south of Brazil.
Method
The dependent variables were: physical activity in free time, consumption of fruits, consumption of vegetables, smoking and abusive alcohol consumption (AAC), and independent marital status and its maintenance or change. The data were analyzed using the chi-square test and the adjusted Poisson regression.
Results
Having as a reference group of those who keep their partner, a higher incidence of smoking cessation was observed (RR= 3,23; IC95%:1,40-7,43) and a lower incidence of regular fruit consumption (RR=0,47; IC95%:0,23-0,97) were observed in those who finished the marital relationship. Those who started a marital relationship had higher incidence of fruit consumption (RR= 2,04; IC95%1,26-3,29).
Conclusion
It was observed a moderate relation between the marital situation and health behaviors.
Keywords:
lifestyle; health behavior; marriage; divorce; longitudinal studies