A Study of the Health Promoting Lifestyle of the Elderly

Oh, Yun Jung

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify the major factors affecting performance in health promoting lifestyle of the elderly. The subjects for this study were 244 elderly person over the age of 60, living in K country, Kyongnam. Data were collected from August 31 to September 30, 1998. The collected data were analyzed with an SPSS program using frequency, percent, mean, cronbach alpha, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson' coefficients of correlation, Duncan test, and stepwise multiple regression. The results are summarized as follows. 1) The average score of performance in the health promoting lifestyle was 2.73. The variable with the highest degree of performance was regular diet(3.29), whereas the one with the lowest degree was self-control(2.22). 2) Performance in the health promoting lifestyle was significantly correlated with self esteem(r=.28, p=0.00), internal health locus of control(r=.58, p=0.00), powerful others health locus of control(r=.48, p=0.00), chance health locus of control(r=.25, p=0.00), perceived health status(r=.53, p=0.00). 3) Performance in the health promoting lifestyle was significantly correlated with such demographic variables as education level (F=9.47, P=0.00), marital status(F=2.63, P=0.05) and previous occupation(F=3.85, P=0.00). 4) The combination of internal health locus of control, powerful others health locus of control and perceived health status explained 43.4percent of the variance of health promoting lifestyle On the basis of this study, other factors affecting others health promoting lifestyle should be identified.