SELF-CONCEPT AND SELF-CARE PRACTICES OF HEALTHY ADOLESCENTS.
Contributors: University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Published: 1991
Number of pages: 128
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Psychology, Developmental.; Health Sciences, Public Health.
Description: The nursing literature is limited with regard to the identification of factors that influence self-care practices in the adolescent population. Therefore, the purposes of this descriptive study were to: (a) ascertain if there is a relationship between self-concept and self-care practices of healthy adolescents; and (b) ascertain if there is a relationship between self-care practices and the covariates of self-concept and the conditioning factors of age, gender, developmental status, family and sociocultural characteristics, and healthy state of adolescents.

Orem's Self-Care Model and developmental theory provided the framework for this study. An investigator-developed Conditioning Factor Profile, the Pier-Harris Self-Concept Scale, and Denyes Self-Care Practice Instrument were administered to students in 10th grade English class in two school systems in a rural county in Alabama. The convenience sample consisted of 160 males and females, 15 to 16 years of age. The typical subject was Caucasian (89%), lived with both parents (67%), and had two or less siblings (70%).

The findings from this investigation revealed that adolescents are engaging in self-care practices to meet general and universal self-care. Self-care practice scores were lowest in the area of nutrition and highest with regard to safety. The adolescents in this sample had average or slightly above average self-concepts. The statistical hypothesis that there is no relationship between self-concept and self-care practices was rejected (r =.41, p $<$.001). A stepwise, multiple regression analysis revealed four significant predictors of self-care practices (R$\sp2$ =.26, F = 11.9, p $<$.001). Significant predictors included: self-concept, church attendance, race, and participation in the paid lunch program. The single best predictor of self-care practices was self-concept (R$\sp2$ =.17, F = 28.8, p $<$.0001).

The investigator concluded that some of the variance in self-care practice of healthy adolescents could be explained. Findings from this study supported Orem's proposition that self-concept influences self-care practices. Recommendations for research include replication of the study with a more heterogeneous, randomized sample. In addition, a longitudinal study to explore the relationship of the study variables across various age groups and developmental levels was suggested.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 52-07, Section: B, page: 3529.

Thesis (D.S.N.)--UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM, 1991.

School code: 0005.