Implicit theories of health predict engagement in healthy lifestyles among Chinese early adolescents: the mediating effect of future self-continuity

Engagement in healthy lifestyles is pivotal for early adolescents’ growth and healthy development. Despite burgeoning research on the determinants of healthy lifestyles among adolescents, there is a dearth of research investigating the role of adolescents’ health mindsets. This study examined whether and how implicit theories of health and future self-continuity affect adolescents’ (N = 440; 49.5% girls; Mage = 10.8, SD = 0.6) engagement in healthy lifestyles. The results indicated that implicit theories of health and future self-continuity accounted for 2.5–5.8% of the variances in behaviour indicators (i.e. (un)healthy eating, physical activity, and sleep quality) and more than 20.3% of the variances in mental well-being indicators (i.e. flourishing and emotional balance) of healthy lifestyles among adolescents. Future self-continuity explained the positive effects of implicit theories of health on adolescents’ engagement in healthy lifestyles. The results have implications for tailoring effective interventions to promote healthy living among adolescents.