Introduction. Health is a fundamental value influencing a happy family life. Young parents have the greatest impact on the development of their children’s healthy attitudes. We often ask ourselves: are contemporary young parents unable to provide the child with health values? Aim. The aim of the article was an analysis of health in the context of young parents’ health behaviours. Material and methods. The research involved 86 young parents aged 20–30years who became parents last year. The evaluation of selected group’s health behaviours were carried out using the authors’ own questionnaire and the questionnaire of the Health Behaviour Inventory. Health perception was examined by the List of Health Criteria and the List of Personal Values. Results. The overall indicator of health behaviours and all four indicators for each category of health behaviours (proper eating habits, preventive behaviour, positive mental attitude and health habits) are lower than the control group. The health value compared to other personal values is appreciated by respondents and placed high in the hierarchy of values. On the one hand, the results show respondents’ knowledge of health behaviours and their satisfaction with their own health, on the other hand, contradictions between these opinions and respondents’ activities. Conclusions. The lifestyle of young parents does not support the implementation of healthy lifestyle fundamental principles. The main cause of children’s anti-health behaviours is the lack of a proper hierarchy of objectives in parents, as well as the lack of consequence in their own conduct.

Key words: health behaviours, perception of health, pro-health attitudes.