Positive health practices and perceived health status in adolescents

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among the components of perceived health status and positive health practices in a sample of 211 adolescents, aged 15 to 21, using canonical variate analysis. All subjects completed the General Health Rating Index, which measures current health, prior health, health outlook, and resistance to illness; and the Personal Lifestyle Questionnaire, which measures exercise, nutrition, relaxation, safety, substance use, and health promotion. Four canonical variates emerged in the statistical analysis, two of which had statistically significant canonical correlations. Implications for nursing practice and research are discussed along with the findings.