Do health control beliefs predict behaviour in Russians?

Background Unhealthy lifestyles contribute substantially to Russia’s high mortality. Health control beliefs influence lifestyles to some extent in the West but this relationship is not well studied in Russia. Method Data from a 1996 cross-sectional interview study in a multistage random Russian population sample (n = 1599, response rate 66%) were analysed. These were belief in the ability to influence general health, risk of heart attack, or cancer; the prevalence of smoking, drinking alcohol several times weekly, binge drinking (>80 g alcohol per occasion), and obesity (self-reported body mass index >30); and several social characteristics. Results Believing one could influence one’s health (prevalence 63%) and reduce the risk of a heart attack (42%) and cancer (30%) was associated with younger age, male sex, and higher income after controlling for other socioeconomic factors. Associations between health control beliefs and behaviours were generally weak and inconsistent. Men believing they could influence their general health were somewhat less likely to smoke or drink regularly. Fewer women who believed that they could reduce their risk of cancer were obese. Conclusions Health control beliefs, commoner in younger and better off Russians, were weakly related to behaviours. This has implications for designing interventions to change health behaviours in Russia.