Abstract
The relationship between health practices and physical health status was examined in a sample of 542 adults. A sub-sample of these individuals were also studied prospectively. Strong relationships were found in the cross-sectional data. “Good” health practices were correlated with higher health status. The analysis of the prospective data collected 18 months after the first interview also revealed a strong relationship between previous health practices and subsequent physical health status. The relationship still obtains when previous health status is controlled.