The associations of family atmosphere, religiosity and lifestyle with self‐esteem and self‐control among Saudi adolescents

We assessed, with validated instruments, whether family atmosphere, religiosity or lifestyle were significant correlates of self-esteem and/or self-control among adolescents (Grades 7-12, n = 2067) in Saudi Arabia. Participants' mean age was 15.5 years; 64% were boys. Higher scores in family atmosphere and religiosity and having fewer lifestyle risk factors were significantly related to higher self-esteem and self-control scores (p < .05; adjusted linear regression models). The odds of scoring low (below median) in both self-esteem and self-control decreased incrementally across the increasing quartiles of family atmosphere and religiosity; the odds decreased incrementally across decreasing number of lifestyle risk factors (p < .05; adjusted multinomial regression). Programmes supporting healthy lifestyles, positive family environments and religiosity may boost self-esteem and self-control among adolescents.