Social support and positive health practices in early adolescents: a test of mediating variables.

This study examines the relationship between social support and positive health practices in early adolescents and tests two variables, loneliness and hopefulness, that theoretically mediate this relationship. The final sample of the study consisted of 134 adolescents, ages 12 to 14, who responded to instruments measuring social support, loneliness, hopefulness, and positive health practices in classroom settings. Correlational analysis supported the five hypothesized relationships. A series of regression analyses indicated that loneliness and hopefulness each were weak mediators of the relationship between social support and positive health practices. Implications for nursing practice are addressed.