Implicit theories of health predict engagement in healthy lifestyles among Chinese early adolescents: the mediating effect of future self-continuity

Abstract

Engagement in healthy lifestyles is pivotal for early adolescents’ growth and healthy development. Despite burgeoning research on the determinants of healthy lifestyles among adolescents, there is a dearth of research investigating the role of adolescents’ health mindsets. This study examined whether and how implicit theories of health and future self-continuity affect adolescents’ (N = 440; 49.5% girls; Mage = 10.8, SD = 0.6) engagement in healthy lifestyles. The results indicated that implicit theories of health and future self-continuity accounted for 2.5–5.8% of the variances in behaviour indicators (i.e. (un)healthy eating, physical activity, and sleep quality) and more than 20.3% of the variances in mental well-being indicators (i.e. flourishing and emotional balance) of healthy lifestyles among adolescents. Future self-continuity explained the positive effects of implicit theories of health on adolescents’ engagement in healthy lifestyles. The results have implications for tailoring effective interventions to promote healthy living among adolescents.

Keywords

• Implicit theories of health
• Healthy lifestyle
• Future self-continuity
• Well-being