Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice

ISSN: 2630-5984

The Mediating Role of Self-Esteem: The Effects of Social Support and Subjective Well-Being on Adolescents’ Risky Behaviors

Firdevs Savi Çakar
Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Education, Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Istiklal Yerleşkesi, Burdur 15100 Turkey
Özlem Tagay
Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Education, Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Istiklal Yerleşkesi, Burdur 15100 Turkey.

Abstract

This research is a descriptive study based on the testing of a structural model developed by considering the effects of perceived social support and subjective well-being on adolescents’ risky behaviors, and the possible mediating role of self-esteem. Participants consisted of 676 high school students attending formal education institutions, including 376 girls and 300 boys. Data collection employed the use of the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory-Short Form, Risky Behaviors Scale, Social Support Rating Scale for Children and Adolescents, Subjective Well-being Scale, and a personal information form. LISREL 8.51 software was used in the establishment of the structural model, and analyses revealed sufficient levels of model-data fit indices. Accordingly, subjective well-being and perceived social support, together with the mediating effect of self-esteem, explained 29% of the variation in risky behaviors.

Keywords
Adolescent, Self-esteem, Subjective well-being, Social support, Risky behaviors.