THE RELATIONSHIP AMONG SELF-ESTEEM, SOCIAL SUPPORT, AND HEALTH BEHAVIORS AMONG ADOLESCENTS.
Contributors: Ohio University.
Published: 1993
Number of pages: 190
Subjects: Education, Health.; Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: This study describes how the variables of self-esteem and social support are interrelated and how this interaction influences health-promoting behaviors of a sample of 239 adolescents. The convenience sample consisted of 155 females and 84 males who ranged in age from 14 to 18 years. The volunteer subjects were adolescents from eight area high schools in rural southeastern Ohio who were attending a Health Fair at a branch campus of Ohio University.

Prior to attending any health promotion sessions, the students were asked to complete the questionnaire. Three instruments were used to collect data for this study: the Teen Wellness Check (1986); the Hare (1975) Self-Esteem Scale (a multidimensional scale divided into three components, peer self-esteem (Factor I); home self-esteem (Factor II), and school self-esteem (Factor III) with the sum of three factors measuring global self-esteem); and a social support questionnaire developed by the investigator.

Analyses of variance procedures reveal statistically significant (.05 level) relationships between self-esteem and social support and health-promoting behaviors (HPB). Adolescents who report a high level of self-esteem and social support are more likely to engage in HPB as hypothesized. Regression analysis reveals that social support is a significant predictor variable for HPB and global self-esteem. Further correlational analyses reveal a strong significant relationship between social support and home (Factor II) self-esteem. Thus, it appears likely that the more the family (home) supports the adolescent and contributes to his/her sense of self-esteem, the more likely the adolescent is to engage in HPB.

The findings suggest implications for the teaching and nursing professions through expanding the role of the school nurse to include school based clinics that focus on health promotion and integrating family social support and self-esteem techniques into the educational curriculum.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 54-12, Section: A, page: 4363.

Thesis (PH.D.)--OHIO UNIVERSITY, 1993.

School code: 0167.