Social Support and Positive Health Practices in Black Late Adolescents

Abstract

This study constructed and tested models using the mediators of resilience and self-efficacy to help explain the relationship between social support and positive health practices (PHPs) in Black late adolescents. A cross-sectional, correlational design was used with a convenience sample of 179 Black college students, aged 18 to 23 years. Participants responded to four instruments; the five bivariate hypotheses were supported. Social support correlated positively with PHPs ( r = .45, p < .001), resilience ( r = .28, p < .001), and self-efficacy ( r = .40, p < .001). Resilience ( r = .31, p < .001) and self-efficacy ( r = .38, p < .001) correlated positively with PHPs. Regression analyses indicated that resilience and self-efficacy were partial, not complete mediators of the relationship between social support and PHPs. This research has relevance for practice involving Black late adolescents, with social support playing a role in promoting PHPs.