ABSTRACT
Presently not sufficient attention is paid to adolescent health promotion in many countries, because of the widespread belief that adolescents are generally healthy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate predictors of adolescent girls' quality of life using path analysis based on Pender's health promotion model. The Pender's health promotion model served as the framework of this cross-sectional study, which included a total of 500 adolescent girls [grades 9-11] selected by stratified random sampling from 20 high schools for girls in 4 districts of Kashan province, Iran. Inclusion criteria were being in grades 9-11 and a written informed consent [from teachers, parents and the girls themselves]. Data were collected through interviewing the girls, the interviewers being trained persons, using several standard questionnaires [for perceived self-efficacy, perceived affect, perceived barriers, perceived social support; health promoting lifestyle, and health-related quality of life]. Data analysis was done using SPSS18 and LISREL 8.8, the statistical test being path analysis. All constructs of the health promotion model and health promoting lifestyle were significantly related to adolescent girls' quality of life. Perceived self-efficacy [beta =0.70, p<0/01] and perceived affect [beta =0.21, p<0/01] had the highest correlation with the quality of life. The model and the health-promoting lifestyle as a mediator accounted for 73% and 39% of variance in adolescent girls' quality of life, respectively. The findings of this study indicate that the health promotion model can be used to explain and predict the quality of life of adolescent girls. Thus, the Pender's health promotion model is recommended to health planners for promoting the quality of life in this population