Gage, Gale S.. An investigation of mediators of the relationship between social support and positive health practices in black late adolescents. Retrieved from https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T36Q1VG6
DescriptionThe purpose of this study was to examine and test theory regarding positive health practices in Black late adolescents. Two models tested the mediation variables of resilience and self-efficacy to help explain the relationship between social support and positive health practices. The final convenience sample of 179 college students, aged 18-23 years, was recruited from an urban community college located in New Jersey. Participants completed a demographic data form and four instruments measuring the study variables. Using Pearson correlations, results indicated that positive health practices was positively related to social support (r = .45, p < .001), resilience (r = .31, p < .001), and self-efficacy (r = .38, p < .001). Social support was found to be positively related to resilience (r = .28, p < .001) and positively related to self-efficacy (r = .40, p < .001). Multiple regression analyses as specified by Baron and Kenny (1986) tested the two mediational models. Neither of the models was supported as hypothesized. Model 1 found that when resilience was controlled, the relationship between social support and positive health practices remained statistically significant (t = 2.88, p = .005) and the loss of 6% of explained variance in positive health practices by social support was due to mediation of resilience. The testing of Model 2 found that when self-efficacy was controlled for statistically, the relationship between social support and positive health practices remained statistically significant (t = 4.96, p = .001) and the loss of 10% of explained variance in positive health practices by social support was due to mediation of self-efficacy. Findings indicate that resilience and self-efficacy are partial not complete mediators in the relationship between social support and positive health practices in Black late adolescents. Based on study findings, it is concluded that social support, resilience, and self-efficacy are each positively related to positive health practices. Additionally, resilience and self-efficacy are each positively related to social support. However, neither mediator helped to explain the relationship in Black late adolescents. Other mediators need to be found that better explain the relationship between social support and positive health practices in this population.