Social and Behavioral Predictors of Adolescents’ Positive Attitude towards Life and Self

Marta Malinowska-Cieślik, Joanna Mazur, Hanna Nałęcz and Agnieszka Małkowska-Szkutnik
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Marta Malinowska-Cieślik: Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Medical College, 20 Grzegorzecka Str., 31-531 Krakow, Poland
Joanna Mazur: Collegium Medicum, University of Zielona Gora, 26 Zyty Str., 65-046 Zielona Gora, Poland
Hanna Nałęcz: Department of Child and Adolescent Health, Institute of Mother and Child, 17A Kasprzaka Str., 01-211 Warsaw, Poland
Agnieszka Małkowska-Szkutnik: Faculty of Education, University of Warsaw, 16/20 Mokotowska Str., 00-561 Warsaw, Poland

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 22, 1-13

Abstract: Positive attitude is an important cognitive component of optimism. Although optimism has been widely studied in adolescents’ health, there is limited knowledge about social and behavioral determinants of their positive attitude. The aim of this study was to identify the main predictors of a positive attitude towards life and self in adolescence. Data were collected in 2010 from 2562 Polish adolescents, aged 15 to 17 years old, within the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children survey. A positive attitude was measured using the 4-item Positive Attitude Scale (PAS). Univariate analysis of variance was conducted and then hierarchical linear regression models adjusted for gender, age and family affluence were estimated. The mean PAS score was 13.25 (SD = 3.74), on the scale ranged 0–20. Eight out of 18 variables were included in the final model, which explained 25.1% of PAS variability. Communication in the family and with peers, as well as neighborhood social capital showed the strongest impact on positive attitude in adolescents. Physical activity, eating breakfast and school performance were also found to be important predictors. The results of the study highlight the need to include the development of interpersonal competences, promoting physical activity and supporting school performance, in adolescents’ mental health promotion programs, particularly in girls.

Keywords: adolescents; positive attitude; health behaviors; social relations; neighborhood; school performance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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