Preventive health practices among female employees in an academic community

This report presents data on the prevalence of seven preventive health practices among 202 female employees in an academic community. Favorable and unfavorable practices are compared according to selected demographic variables. Data were obtained from a self-administered questionnaire mailed to a random sample of female faculty and classified staff. The older women were more likely to eat breakfast every day but were also more likely to be overweight. Alcoholic beverages were consumed with greater frequency by nonmarried personnel. Women with higher educational levels were more likely to be drinkers but less likely to be current smokers. By occupation, classified staff had a significantly higher proportion of current smokers than did faculty. Differences in the seven health practices by living arrangement, employment status, and place of residence were minimal and nonsignificant.