The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between social support and positive health practices in early adolescents and to test two variables, depression and optimism, that mediate this relationship. The final sample included 128 adolescents, ages 12 to 14, who responded to instruments measuring social support, depression, optimism, and positive health practices in classroom settings. Correlational analysis supported the five hypothesized relationships. A series of regression analyses indicated that depression and optimism each were weak mediators of the relationship between social support and positive health practices. The application of findings to nursing is addressed, using the ACE Star Model for evidence-based practice.
Ayres, C.G. (2003). An investigation of the mediators of the relationship between social support and positive health practices in middle adolescents. (Doctoral dissertation, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 2002) . Dissertation Abstracts International, 63(9-B), 4116.
2.
Baron, R.M., & Kenny, D.A. (1986). The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social-psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical consideration . Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, 1173-1182.
3.
Billingsley, M.A., & Billingsley, M.D. (1987). Depression: The way out . Shawnee Mission, KS: The Benessere Center.
4.
Brissette, I., Scheier, M.F., & Carver, C.S. (2002). The role of optimism in social network development, coping, and psychological adjustment during a life transition. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82, 102-111.
5.
Brown, N., Muhlenkamp, A., Fox, L., & Osborn, N. (1983). The relationship among health beliefs, health values, and health promotion activity. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 5, 155-163.
6.
Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for behavioral sciences (2nd ed.). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
7.
Cohen, S. (1988). Psychosocial models of the role of social support in the etiology of physical disease. Health Psychology, 7, 269-297.
8.
Cohen, S., & Syme, S.L. (1985). Issues in the study and application of social support. In S. Cohen & S. L. Syme (Eds.), Social support and health (pp. 3-22). New York: Academic Press.
9.
Cornwell, B. (2003). The dynamic properties of social support: Decay, growth, and staticity, and their effects on adolescent depression. Social Forces, 81, 953-978.
10.
Elliott, G.R., & Feldman, S.S. (1990). Capturing the adolescent experience. In S. S. Feldman & G. R. Elliott (Eds.), At the threshold: The developing adolescent (pp. 1-53). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
11.
Finkenauer, C., Engels, R.C.M.E., Meeus, W., & Oosterwegel, A. (2002). Self and identity in early adolescence. In T. M. Brinthaupt & R. P. Lipka (Eds.), Understanding early adolescent self and identity: Applications and interventions (pp. 25-56). Albany: State University of New York Press.
12.
Furman, W., & Buhrmester, D. (1985). Children's perceptions of the personal relationships in their social networks. Developmental Psychology, 21, 1016-1024.
13.
Hartzell, H.E. (1984). The challenge of adolescence. Topics in Language Disorders, 4(2) 1-9.
14.
Kahn, R.L., & Antonucci, T.C. (1980). Convoys over the life course: Attachment, roles, and social support. In P. B. Baltes & O. G. Brim (Eds.), Life-span development and behavior (Vol. 3, pp. 253-286). New York: Academic Press.
15.
Liu, Y. ( 2002). The role of perceived social support and dysfunctional attitudes in predicting Taiwanese adolescents' depressive tendency. Adolescence, 37, 823-834.
16.
Mahat, G., & Scoloveno, M.A. (2001). Factors influencing health practices of Nepalese adolescent girls. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 15, 251-255.
17.
Mahat, G., Scoloveno, M.A., & Whalen, C. (2002). Positive health practices of urban minority adolescents. Journal of SchoolNursing, 18, 163-169.
18.
Mahon, N.E., & Yarcheski, A. (2002). Alternative theories of happiness in early adolescents . Clinical Nursing Research, 11, 306-323.
19.
Mahon, N.E., Yarcheski, A., & Yarcheski, T.J. (2004). Social support and positive health practices in young adolescents: A test of mediating variables. Clinical Nursing Research, 13, 216-236.
20.
Mahon, N.E., Yarcheski, T.J., & Yarcheski, A. (2003). The Revised Personal Lifestyle Questionnaire for early adolescents. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 25, 533-547.
21.
Mechanic, D., & Cleary, P.D. (1980). Factors associated with the maintenance of positive health behavior. Preventive Medicine, 9, 805-814.
22.
Monroe, S.M. (1983). Social support and disorder: Toward an untangling of cause and effect. American Journal of Community Psychology , 11, 81-97.
23.
Muhlenkamp, A.F., & Brown, N.J. (1983, September). The development of an instrument to measure health practices. Paper presented at the American Nurses Association Council of Nurse Researchers Conference, Minneapolis, MN.
24.
Peterson, C., & Bossio, L.M. (1991). Health and optimism. New York : Free Press.
25.
Polit, D.F., & Beck, C.T. (2008). Nursing research: Generating and assessing evidence for nursing practice (8th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
26.
Radloff, L.S. (1977). The CES-D Scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Applied Psychological Measurement, 1, 385-401.
27.
Radloff, L.S. (1991). The use of the Center for Epidemiological Studies—Depression Scale in adolescents and young adults. Journal of Youth and Adolescents, 20, 149-166.
28.
Salsman, J.M., Brown, T.L., Brechting, E.H., & Carlson, C.R. (2005). The link between religion and spirituality and psychological adjustment: The mediating role of optimism and social support . Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 31, 522-535.
29.
Scheier, M.F., & Carver, C.S. (1985). Optimism, coping, and health: Assessment and implications of generalized outcome expectancies. Health Psychology, 4, 219-247.
30.
Scheier, M.F., & Carver, C.S. (1992). Effects of optimism on psychological and physical well-being: Theoretical overview and empirical update. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 16, 201-228.
31.
Stevens, K.R., & Staley, J.M. (2006). The Quality-Chasm reports, evidence-based practice, and nursing's response to improve healthcare. NursingOutlook , 54, 94-101.
32.
Takakura, M., & Sakihara, S. (2001). Psychosocial correlates of depressive symptoms among Japanese high school students. Journal of AdolescentHealth, 28, 82-89.
33.
Taylor, S.E. (1989). Positive illusions. New York : Basic Books.
34.
Tilden, V.P., Nelson, C.A., & May, B.A. (1990). The IPR Inventory: Development and psychometric characteristics. Nursing Research, 39, 337-343.
35.
Umberson, D. (1987). Family status and health behaviors: Social control as a dimension of social integration. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 28, 306-319.
36.
Weinert, C. (1987). A social support measure: PRQ85. Nursing Research, 36, 273-277.
37.
Weiss, R. (1974). The provisions of social relationships. In Z. Rubin (Ed.), Doing unto others (pp. 17-26). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
38.
Yarcheski, A., & Mahon, N. (1989). A causal model of positive health practices: The relationship between approach and replication. Nursing Research , 38, 88-93.
39.
Yarcheski, A., & Mahon, N.E. (2000). A causal model of depression in early adolescents . Western Journal of Nursing Research, 22, 879-894.
40.
Yarcheski, A., Mahon, N.E., & Yarcheski, T.J. (1992). Validation of the PRQ85 social support measure for adolescents. Nursing Research, 41, 332-337.
41.
Yarcheski, A., Mahon, N.E., & Yarcheski, T.J. (1997). Alternate models of positive health practices in adolescents. Nursing Research, 46, 85-92.
42.
Yarcheski, A., Mahon, N.E., & Yarcheski, T.J. (2001). Social support and well-being in early adolescents: The role of mediating variables. Clinical Nursing Research, 10, 163-181.
43.
Yarcheski, A., Mahon, N.E., Yarcheski, T.J., & Cannella, B.L. (2004). A meta-analysis of predictors of positive health practices. Journal of Nursing Scholarship , 36, 102-108.
44.
Yarcheski, T.J., Mahon, N.E., & Yarcheski, A. (2003). Social support, self-esteem, and positive health practices of early adolescents. Psychological Reports, 92, 99-103.
45.
Yarcheski, T.J., Mahon, N.E., & Yarcheski, A. (2004). Depression, optimism, and positive health practices in young adolescents. Psychological Reports, 95, 932-934.
