Body Esteem, Stress, and Health Promoting Behavior among Korean Adults in a Community

Hong, Minhee; Park, Youngrye; Chen, Eun Young; Yun, Jeong Woo; Oh, Mi Hwa

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between body esteem, stress, and health promoting behaviors among Korean adults in a community and to identify factors that influence health promoting behaviors.
METHODS
This study was conducted using a questionnaire which included item for body esteem, stress and health promotion behaviors. Data were collected from 257 adults living in Jeollabuk-do in Korea from November to December, 2015. The collected data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression using the SPSS/WIN 21.0 program.
RESULTS
The mean score of body esteem was 2.73±0.43, stress was 1.89±0.68, and health promoting behaviors was 2.22±0.45. There was a significant positive correlation between body esteem and health promotion behaviors (r=.47, p<.001), whereas there was a significant negative correlation between stress and health promotion behaviors (r=-.47, p<.001). In stepwise multiple regression analysis, body esteem, religion, education explained approximately 30.1% of health promoting behaviors (F=37.73, p<.001).
CONCLUSION
The results in this study indicate that body esteem is the most important factor in health promoting behaviors among Korean adults. Thus, body esteem contents should be included in developing programs for adults to enhance their health promoting behaviors.