Table 1 Description of variables

Outcome variables

Binge drinking

Had 5 or more doses in the same occasion in the previous month.

1 = yes, 0 = no

Smoking

At least once in the previous year.

1 = yes, 0 = no

Marijuana use

At least once in the previous year.

1 = yes, 0 = no

High consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF)

A score made by the sum of the scores by the answers to the following question: “How many days did you eat each of these food types on the past seven days? Answers ranged from 0 = none to 7 = every day. The sample score was divided into quartiles and the upper quartile was labelled as high consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF).

1 = yes, 0 = no

Sedentary habits

Do children spend more than eight hours seated apart from school hours?

1 = yes, 0 = no

Bullying perpetration

Has committed with frequency of at least once a month in the previous year.

1 = yes, 0 = no

Multiple health risk behaviors

A score was made summing the type of behaviours declared by each respondent. There are six health risk behaviours so that the possible values range from 0 to 6. Scores of 4, 5 and 6 were then combined as “4 or more”.

0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or more

Explanatory variable

Self-control

Behavioural scale assessing aspects of impulsivity, immediacy, risk and adventure seeking and self-centeredness. Answers ranged from “totally agree” to “totally disagree” and the mean was calculated for the sample. The sample was then, divided into quartiles. Highest scores are equivalent to lower self-control (more low self-control).

Highest, high, medium and low

Adjustment variables

Gender

1 = male, 0 = female

School administrative status

1 = public, 0 = private

Delinquent peer group

1 = yes, 0 = no

Age

Discrete (completed years)

Socioeconomic status

A score was calculated with seven items: possession of consumer goods in the household (landline, computer, car, etc.) and having a monthly paid house cleaner working at home. Most frequent items were given lower weights while most infrequent were given higher weights.

Positive parenting

A mean score was calculated from three questions about recognition for efforts/accomplishments (ex.: “your parents let you know when you have done a good job with something”). Each question ranged from never (1) to frequently (4).

Possible values range from 1 to 4

Morality index

A mean score was calculated from seven questions about how bad the person thought it was to do certain things

(ex.: “lie to his/her parents, teachers or other adults”). Each question ranged from not bad at all (1) to very bad (7).

Possible values range from 1 to 7

Exposure to school violence and disorder

A mean score of 12 items assessing the prevalence of witnessing or hearing about school violence or school disorder. Answers were in a 4-point Likert scale from “never” to “often (5 or more times)”.

Possible values range from 1 to 4

Exposure to community violence

A mean score was calculated considering the frequency of occurrence of situations such as drug selling, robbery and police bribery, in the previous 12 months. Each question ranged from not never (1) frequently (4).

Possible values range from 1 to 4