ALTERNATE MODELS OF POSITIVE HEALTH PRACTICES IN ADOLESCENTS

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.