The Effect of Family Function on Health Behavior: Mediating Effect of Self-Esteem

This study examines the factors influencing enhancing health behaviors among university students.Specifically, it seeks to verify the impact of family function on health behaviors and analyze the mediating effect of self-esteem.To conduct this study, a survey was administered to university students residing in three regions(Cheonan, Busan, and Wonju) in South Korea, and a total of 261 responses were used for analysis.Regression analysis was performed using SPSS 25.0 to examine whether family function and self-esteem influence health behaviors.A three-step mediation analysis and the Sobel test were conducted to verify the mediating effects.The results of the analysis are as follows: First, family function was found to have a significant positive effect on self-esteem among university students.Second, family function was also found to have a significant positive effect on health behaviors.Third, in the mediation analysis, family function and self-esteem were confirmed to have positive effects on health behaviors, with self-esteem demonstrating a partial mediating effect.These findings confirm that the influence of family remains significant in enhancing the health behaviors of university students entering adulthood.The study suggests that intervention strategies to promote the physical health of university students should consider not only individual internal factors but also the environmental concept of family.