J Korean Acad Adult Nurs.  1997 Aug;9(2):286-296.

Comparative Study on the Health Behaviour and Related Factors of the Korean Elderly and non-elderly Adults

• Oh JJ

Abstract

The aim of this study is to help understanding of the health behaviour of elderly and to promote the development of nursing intervention enhancing health behaviour. This study trys to accomplish this goal by narrating and comparing health behaviours of several age groups and investigating related factors of health behaviour. Concrete Objects are as follows : first, to investigate whether elderly do active health behaviour, and what is the content of health behaviour. Second, to compare factors influencing health behaviour of each group. Subjects are 409 adult community residents. A group(20~39) are 123. B group(40~59) are 117. C group(60~) are 169. The results of this study are as belows. 1. The health state of elderly(C) is worse than other age groups. Health fear and health concern of C is less than A and B. But the rate of practicing health behaviour of C is higher than A and B. 2. The question of what is the most important health factor ; (1) [Regular life and diet] is considered the most important by all age groups(A-30.1%, B-27.4%, C-40.7%). Next is [exercise and rest]. And all age groups thnk that [happy mind] is among health factors. (2) [Frequent outgoing](5.7%), [hard working], [economic stability], [disease control] is also mentioned by elderly. 3. Ill-health behaviour : [smoking], [drinking], [stress], [irregular life and diet] are mentioned by all age groups. Elderly considers [confining at home](7.0%), [having nothing to do](5.6%), [motionless lying] as Ill-health behaviour. 4. The rate of practicing health behaviour : A is 73.2%, B is 74.4%, and C is 78.1%. Health behaviour is mainly made up of the items reflecting physical health concept. 5. The rate of peopl eating food or medicine in last 6 months to promote health : A is 30.3%, B is 45.4%, and C is 54.2%. 6. (1) The rate of health fear is highest at B(80.3%). (2) [Disease contract and worsening] is first item of health fear. A and B mention [can't live healthy], [declining of physical strength], [being fatty], [smoking], [stress], [loss of mobility]. C mention [loss of mobility], [deterioration of vision and hearing], [declining of cognitive function]. (3) The reasons of health fear are [maintenance of living], [cases of other people], [hardship of children] (A and B group), [confining of activity], [hardship of children] (C). 7. [Sex(p=.05)], [health concern(p=.04)] are significant variables in health behavior in all respondents. But they are different among each age groups. [Economic activity(p=.02)], [health concern(p=.05)] (B group), [education level(p=.05)], [having disease or not(p=.05)] (C group) are significant variables. In B group, [the more educated(p=.8)], [the healthier(p=.03)] and [having person to discuss with(p=.05)] were more concerned about health. This study shows the necessity of another detail study to compare health concept and behavior of different age groups, and the variables affecting health behavior. And it is suggested that the results of the study may be applied in planning health program, and in promoting participation of community residents in the program.

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Aged*
Surveys and Questionnaires
Eating
Health Behavior
Humans
Nursing