PROTECTIVE FACTORS IN ADOLESCENT HEALTH BEHAVIOR

The role of psychosocial protective factors in adolescent health-enhan cing behaviors-healthy diet, regular exercise, adequate sleep, good de ntal hygiene, and seatbelt use-was investigated among 1,493 Hispanic, White, and Black high school students in a large, urban school distric t. Both proximal (health-related) and distal (conventionality-related) protective factors have significant positive relations with health-en hancing behavior and with the development of health-enhancing behavior . In addition, in cross-sectional analyses, protection was shown to mo derate risk. Key proximal protective factors are value on health, perc eived effects of health-compromising behavior, and parents who model h ealth behavior. Key distal protective factors are positive orientation to school, friends who model conventional behavior, involvement in pr osocial activities, and church attendance. The findings suggest the im portance of individual differences on a dimension of conventionality-u nconventionality. Strengthening both proximal and distal protective fa ctors may help to promote healthful behaviors in adolescence.