Self-esteem patterns and the associations with health-related quality of life, self-rated health and lifestyle behaviour among junior high school students: a latent class analysis

The findings in this study suggest that low self-esteem patterns are associated with poorer HRQoL, low mental health and self-rated overall health. Lower self-esteem patterns are related to unhealthy lifestyle behaviours characterized as breakfast skipping, insufficient sleep time and low level of physical activity among junior high school students. Further research is needed to extend prospective studies and intervention research to better elucidate the relationships between lifestyle behaviours and self-esteem, and between self-esteem and HRQoL, mental and physical health among adolescents. Health intervention programs that promote self-esteem levels and healthy lifestyles together are recommended to enhance HRQoL and health among junior high school students.