J Korean Acad Adult Nurs.  1998 Apr;10(1):198-207.

Relating Factors and Health Promoting Behaviors of a Family Caregiver

• Kim HJ

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to define health promoting behaviors of a family caregiver, to identify the factors affecting the performance in health-promoting behaviors, and to provide basis for nursing intervention strategies to promote health promoting behaviors. Study variables were induced from the Pender's Health Promotion Model and also from the literature that was related to the family caregiver's experiences. This study was conducted on the exploratory survey. Data were collected by self-reported questionnaires from 218 family caregivers in a university hospital in Tae-Gu, between March 13 and April 11, 1997. The subjects of this study were 218 adult caregivers. The samples data were collected by using a convenience sampling method. The following instruments were used in the study after some adaptation : Park Chai soon' Health Promoting Life-style Profile, Park Chai soon's Self-efficacy Instrument and Rogenberg's Self-esteem Scale. In addition, items measuring family caregiver-professional interaction were made by the present author based on related studies. The reliabilities of instruments were tested with Chronbach's alpha (.75-.89). Data were analyzed by using the SAS program, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's coefficients of correlation and stepwise multiple regression technique was applied to analyses data. The results of this study were as follows. First, the average score of the performance in the health-promoting behavior variable was 130.88 ; the range of the score was from 83 to 189. The variables with the highest degree of the performance were self-actualization and interpersonal relationship. Second, the relationships between the degree of the performance in health-promoting behaviors and its exploratory factors were as follows ; the performance in the health-promoting behaviors was significantly correlated with self-efficacy, self-esteem, perceived health status, caregiver-professional interaction, perceived severity of illness, caregiving stress and change of health-concern. The performance in the health-promoting behaviors was significantly different from such demographic variables such as age and sex. Third, stepwise multiple regression analyses showed that : 1. Self-efficacy was the main predictor and accounted for 36% of the total variance. 2. Self-efficacy, age, caregiver-professional interaction and self-esteem, altogether accounted for 47.5% of the total variance. In conclusion, self-efficacy, age caregiver-professional interaction and self-esteem were identified to be important variables that contributed to promote health-promoting behaviors.

MeSH Terms

Adult
Caregivers*
Health Promotion
Humans
Nursing
Surveys and Questionnaires