The relationship between perceived social support and healthy life behaviors: The mediating role of self-efficacy, quality of life and social media addiction

Aims: This study examined the effect of perceived social support on adolescents' healthy lifestyle behaviors and evaluated the mediating roles of self-efficacy, quality of life, and social media addiction. Material and Method: A cross-sectional design was applied between September 2024 and January 2025 with students from seven high schools—including Anatolian, Imam Hatip, and Vocational Schools—in Istanbul's Fatih district. The sample size, determined using a model assessing self-efficacy mediation, comprised 649 students. Data were collected using a sociodemographic form, a single-item quality of life question, the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, the Self-Efficacy Scale for Children, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II. Results: Multiple mediation analysis revealed that perceived social support influenced healthy lifestyle behaviors both directly (B = 0.366, 95% CI = 0.260–0.473) and indirectly via self-efficacy (B = 0.243, 95% CI = 0.183–0.308) and quality of life (B = 0.060, 95% CI = 0.028–0.095). Self-efficacy accounted for 36% and quality of life for 8% of the total effect. Social media addiction showed no mediating role (B = 0.004, 95% CI = −0.008–0.019). Conclusion: Programs to improve adolescents' healthy lifestyle behaviors should adopt multi-level approaches that enhance social support networks while strengthening self-efficacy and quality of life. Keywords: Health Behavior, Self-Efficacy, Social Media, Social Support, Quality of Life