The Impact of Self-Esteem on Hair Care Behavior in Adolescents : The Mediating Role of Perceived Behavioral Control

Adolescence is a time of rapid physical change brought on by secondary sexual characteristics, leading to heightened interest in and concerns about appearance. These changes are directly linked to self-identity development, making appearance a significant topic of interest for adolescents. Modern society emphasizes the importance of appearance, shaping the values and attitudes of individuals and society. People engage in appearance management behaviors to meet individual or societal aesthetic standards and to express their identities, values, and individuality. For adolescents, hair management becomes a particularly significant means of expression, offering a way to assert individuality within the confines of standardized school uniforms. Accordingly, this study investigated the influence of self-esteem on adolescent hair management behavior, along with the mediating effect of perceived behavioral control. An online survey of high school students in the metropolitan area was conducted, with 250 responses analyzed using SPSS 28.0. The results of the study are as follows. First, adolescents