ALPHA PSYCHIATRY
Original Articles

Relationship between risky health behaviors and some demographic characteristics of adolescents' self-esteem and healthy lifestyle behaviors in Cankiri

Alpha Psychiatry 2015; 16: 51-59
DOI: 10.5455/apd.48433
Read: 988 Downloads: 534 Published: 01 February 2015

Objective: This study aims to examine the adolescents’ self-esteem and healthy life style behaviors according to their some of socio-demographic characteristics and risky health behaviors. Method: This descriptive and cross sectional study was conducted with 1001 students from 10 high school. Healthy Life Style Behaviors Scale (HLSBS) and Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory (CSI) were used as data collection instruments. Findings: It was found that the adolescents’ self-esteem and healthy life style behavior score averages were moderate. When self-esteem and healthy life style behavior scores by socio-demographic characteristics were examined, it was determined that the adolescents' HLSBS and CSI were lower than the others. These adolescents had the following features: such as mothers with low levels of education, living in a family with many children, limited time shared with the family, with the history of drug addiction and suicide attempts, exposed to violence in the family, had lower school success, had been involved in physically destructive behavior and drunk driving without a license and seatbelt. Additionally, there was such a strong positive correlation between CSI and HLSBS scores of the adolescents that when HLSBS scores went up, their self-esteem levels went up, too. Results: This study shows that self-esteem and healthy lifestyle behaviors gained by adolescents is an important factor in determining the status of their psychosocial well-being. In this regard, applications and counseling services for protecting and improving the health of young people should be given importance and priority. [Anadolu Psikiyatri Derg 2015; 16(1.000): 51-59]

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EISSN 2757-8038