Journal of Educational, Health and Community Psychology Vol 10, No 3, 2021 E-ISSN 2460-8467 Musabiq, Fitri. 544 Alternative Mechanism to Deal with Stressful Condition: Do We Really have a Social Support? Sugiarti Agus Musabiq Faculty of Psychology, University of Indonesia sugiartipsi@gmail.com Siska Aris Nur Fitri Faculty of Psychology, University of Indonesia siskaaris7@gmail.com Abstract This study aims to determine the role of health promoting behavior as a mediator of the relationship between perceived social support and psychological distress in poor young adults in DKI Jakarta. The research data collection was directly conducted by visiting the participants, young adults with age 8-29 years old (N = 314). The research instruments used were HPLP II, Social Provision Scale (SPS), Symptom-25 Checklist (HSCL-25). The results of the mediation analysis showed the significancy that health promotion behavior partially mediated the relationship between perceived social support and psychological distress, with indirect effects (β = .003, p = <.01) and direct effects (β = -.022, p = <. 01). Thus, perceived social support can directly increase psychological distress or through health promotion behavior first. People who perceive themselves get social support will have feeling that are cared for and loved, so that they will motivate themselves to be involved in healthy behavior and reduce psychological distress. Keywords: Health-promoting behavior, perceived social support, poor young adults, and psychological distress. Received 23 July 2021/Accepted 25 August 2021 ©Author all rights reserved Introduction In Indonesia poverty is often associated with low economic status. According to the Central Statistical Agency (2018) poverty is defined as the inability of individuals in terms of economic aspects to meet basic needs, such as food and non-food measured by financial expenditure. Poverty which is indicated by low socio-economic status can cause stress (Mirowsky & Ross, 2003). According to Hanadita and Tampubolon (2016) poverty in Indonesia can also be assessed from the health and education level of the Indonesian people. Thus, health and education factors are important to get further attention, especially related to poverty. The aim of this study was to determine the role of health-promoting