ADOLESCENT HEALTH PROMOTION - TESTING A MODEL USING MULTIDIMENSIONAL-SCALING

Jessor (1987) proposed a model of three overlapping domains relevant t o adolescent health promotion. This study tested this model using mult idimensional scaling analysis (MDS). The participants were 1,510 stude nts (Grades 7-9) in two suburban schools in the Midwest. MDS yielded t hree dimensions, named positive coping resources, conventional/unconve ntional (i.e., degree of orientation to adult societal norms), and und erweight/overweight. Graphing the dimensions led to clusters of behavi ors that largely coincided with Jessor's three domains of problem beha viors, health-enhancing behaviors, and emotional factors. This model m ay help in designing interventions to decrease health-compromising and increase health-enhancing behaviors in adolescents.