The Mediating Roles of Subjective Well-being Increasing Strategies and Emotional Autonomy Between Adolescents’ Body Image and Subjective Well-being

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate a proposed model of the relations between emotional autonomy and use of subjective well-being increasing strategies and subjective well-being in early adolescents. This model hypothesized that adolescents’ level of body image would mediate the relation between early adolescents’ emotional autonomy and use of subjective well-being increasing strategies and subjective well-being. A total of 236 Turkish early adolescents [Ageranj = 10–15, AgeMean = 12.72, AgeSd = 1.06] participated in the study. These adolescents included 133 females (56.4%); and 103 males (43.6%)]. The following measures were employed: The Body Appreciation Scale Emotional Autonomy Scale, Subjective Well-Being Increasing Strategies Scale for Adolescents, Positive–Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Two-stage structural equation modeling was used for data analysis. Bootstrapping analysis was employed to test the mediation effects. Support for the hypothesized model was provided. The findings suggested that programs designed to support early adolescents’ subjective well-being should address not only emotional autonomy and use of subjective well-being increasing strategies, but the development of body image as well.