| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4202424 | Preventive Medicine Reports | 2015 | 5 Pages |
•A new self-regulation resource model was tested in a sample of emerging adults.•Self-compassion was associated with health-promoting behavior intentions.•Health-self-efficacy and low negative affect explained this association.•Self-regulation resources link self-compassion to health behavior intentions.
ObjectiveThis study tested a self-regulation resource model (SRRM) of self-compassion and health-promoting behavior intentions in emerging adults. The SRRM posits that positive and negative affect in conjunction with health self-efficacy serve as valuable self-regulation resources to promote health behaviors.MethodsAn online survey was completed by 403 emerging adults recruited from the community and a Canadian University in late 2008. Multiple meditation analyses with bootstrapping controlling for demographics and current health behaviors tested the proposed explanatory role of the self-regulation resource variables (affect and self-efficacy) in linking self-compassion to health behavior intentions.ResultsSelf-compassion was positively associated with intentions to engage in health-promoting behaviors. The multiple mediation model explained 23% of the variance in health behavior intentions, with significant indirect effects through health self-efficacy and low negative affect.ConclusionInterventions aimed at increasing self-compassion in emerging adults may help promote positive health behaviors, perhaps through increasing self-regulation resources.
