Background:
Proper human behaviour is needed to maintain health. Healthy lifestyle patterns develop specifically during childhood and adolescence, a process which helps shape young people, and one which significantly affects various life choices, including those regarding health. The aim of the study was to evaluate the health-related behaviour of young people, and to determine the hierarchical position of health as a symbol of happiness and its interrelations with related symbols. Differences in the postulated sources of happiness were also determined in patients with favourable and adverse health-related behaviour.

Material and methods:
The study involved 209 high school students. The age of respondents ranged from 17 to 19 (M = 18, SD = 0.48). The study involved 114 girls (representing 54.5% of the group) and 95 boys (45.4%). The variables were measured using two techniques by Juczynski (2009): the Health Behaviour Inventory (IZZ) and Part I of the Personal Value List (measurement of the symbols of happiness).

Results:
The respondents indicated that good health is positioned third in the hierarchy of the determinants of happiness, slightly lower than a large circle of friends. The respondents regard a successful family life as being the greatest determinant of happiness. Higher ratings for health in the hierarchy of the symbols of personal happiness were associated with more favourable adopted health-related behaviour. Similarly, people with favourable health-related behaviour are more likely to choose health as the source of a positive life than those with adverse behaviour.

Conclusions:
The high position of health in the scope of a happy life is a positive factor in the health-related behaviour of young people.