Behavioral Domains and Physiological Characteristics in Young Adults: Findings from Integrated Seven-Day...

This study examined patterns among six selected variables from seven-day self-monitored behavioral records and physiological characteristics and their cross-domain associations in young adults.

The study included 157 university students aged 20-23 years (106 men, 51 women). Six behavioral variables derived from seven-day self-monitoring and seven physiological indicators were examined using sex-specific PCA, with component retention determined by parallel analysis. Cross-domain associations between the retained physiological and behavioral components were tested using Pearson correlations with Benjamini-Hochberg FDR correction.

Parallel analysis retained two physiological and two behavioral components in each sex. The physiological components represented body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness, while the behavioral components primarily reflected energy intake-expenditure and carbohydrate-protein patterns. Two of the eight cross-domain Pearson associations had raw p-values below 0.05, but neither remained statistically significant after FDR correction.

The seven-day behavioral patterns and physiological characteristics showed limited correspondence. Seven-day self-monitoring can complement physiological assessment by documenting recent behavior, but should not be used as a substitute for direct assessment of physiological characteristics.