Abstract
We have developed the promotion of zest for living model (PZLM), based on the course of study undertaken by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. We have assumed that PZLM is a three-tier hierarchical model consisting of (1) self-acceptance (SA), which affects school-life skills (SLS), health condition, self-growth, social support and the total number of favorite subjects, and (2) SLS, which affect the health condition, self-growth, social support and the total number of favorite subjects. We also assumed that SA and SLS were important for promoting other factors related to the zest for living. Junior high school student participants (N=424) completed the SA scale, the SLS scale, and a questionnaire inquiring about their health condition, self-growth, social support and the total number of favorite subjects. Results of structural equation modeling supported the hierarchical structure of the PZLM (GFI=0.978, AGFI=0.916, RMSEA=0.078), as well as the contention that SA, especially maturity, and SLS affected other factors related to PZLM. These results suggest that SA and SLS should be the focus of efforts to promote the other factors related to the zest for living.
