Self-efficacy, Optimism and Social Support as Predictors of Health Behaviors in Young Adults

Abstract

The present research aims to find out self-efficacy, optimism and social support as predictors of health behaviors. It also aims to explore the relationship between the variables and examine mean differences between men and women. Correlational research design was used and convenient sampling was done to select data of N=397 young adults from different universities of Lahore, Pakistan. Assessment protocol included; a demographic form, general self-efficacy scale, optimism scale, multidimensional scale of perceived social support and health promoting and preventive behaviors scale. Findings of the study revealed that self-efficacy, optimism and social support were positively correlated to health behaviors and were significant. It was seen that self-efficacy, optimism and social support were significant positive predictors of health behaviors in young adults. Women scored higher on self-efficacy, optimism and health behaviors than men and the difference was significant whereas, men scored higher on social support but the difference was not statistically significant. Policy makers and public health experts can take these findings as a basis of introducing programs and implement plans that focus on enhancing optimism and self-efficacy in young adults so that they opt health promoting and preventive behaviors in future.