PURPOSE: The purpose of this descriptive, cross-sectional study was to examine relationships among self efficacy, social support, and health promoting behaviors in correctional officers. Factors that influence health promoting behaviors of correctional officers were also assessed. METHODS: Two hundred correctional officers completed a pack of self-report questionnaires. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, and multiple regression. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences in health promoting behaviors depending on marital status and subjective health status. Significant positive correlations among self-efficacy, social support, and health promoting behaviors were found. Factors influencing health promoting behaviors of correctional officers were social support, subjective health status, marital status, and self-efficacy. CONCLUSION: Considering the findings from this study, health care providers need to develop effective nursing interventions which increase the level of self-efficacy and social support for correctional officers and to help correctional officers practice health promoting behaviors.