Analyzing Changes and Determinants of Self-rated Health during Adolescence: A Latent Growth Analysis

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine changes in the self-rated health of adolescents and to identify its predictors using longitudinal data from the KCYPS. METHODS: A sample of 2,351 adolescents who were in the first grade of middle school in 2010 was analyzed. The study employed latent growth analysis using data from 2010 to 2016. RESULTS: Results indicated that self-rated health of adolescents increased, following the form of a linear function. The analyses revealed that adolescent self-perception of health were conceptualized not only by their health-related behaviors, but also by personal, socioeconomic and psychological factors. Specifically, physical activity, passive leisure time activities, gender (initial b=−.060, slope b=.030), place of residence (initial b=−.079), self-rated economic condition (b=.098), working status of mother (b=.016), monthly family income (b=−.001), aggression (b=.061), depression (initial b=−.104, slope b=.012), stress (initial b=−.172, slope b=.014, ego-resiliency (initial b=.197, slope b=−.021), and self-esteem (initial b=.106, slope b=−.017) had significant effects on the overall linear change of self-rated health (p < .05 for all estimators above). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that adolescents' self evaluation of their health is shaped by their total sense of functioning, which includes individual, health-related behavioral, socioeconomic, and psychological factors.