The purpose of this study was to develop and test two alternate causal
models of positive health Practices In adolescents, which built on a
modification of the original theoretical formulation previously, teste
d in adolescents by Yarcheski and Mahon (1989). The sample consisted o
f 202 adolescents, aged 15 to 21. In classroom settings, they responde
d to instruments and a demographic data sheet measuring variables in b
oth models (age, gender, self-esteem, social support, and positive hea
lth practices), and to additional variables in Model 1 (future time pe
rspective) and Model 2 (perceived health status). Both causal models w
ere tested by the LISREL 7 program. By all indicators used in the stud
y, there was a very good fit of both models with their data, there wer
e no specification errors in either model, and neither model required
modification. Visual inspection of the indicators suggested that Model
1 had a slightly better fit than did Model 2 with their respective da
ta. These results suggested that causal models explaining positive hea
lth practices should include endogenous variables that share a common
orientation, such as those with a psychosocial focus versus those with
a health-related focus.