Factors Influencing Health Promoting Behavior of the Elderly : Perceived Family Support and Life Satisfaction

노인의 건강증진행위에 영향을 미치는 요인 : 가족지지와 생활만족도 변수를 중심으로

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe perceived family support, life satisfaction, and health promoting behavior (HPB), and to identify factors influencing HPB among the elderly. Method: Study participants were 165 elderly over 65 years of age who were living in C city, Korea. The instruments included the Family Support Scale developed by Kang, Life Satisfaction Scale developed by Choi, Health Promoting Behavior Scale designed by Walker, et al. The data were analyzed using the SAS program by t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression. Results: 1. The scores for family support ranged from 11 to 55, with a mean score of 41.55. The scores for life satisfaction ranged from 0 to 40, with a mean of 22.02. The scores for HPB ranged from 40 to 160 with a mean score of 98.07. In the sub-dimensions of HPB, the participants showed the highest level of engagement in the nutrition domain, and the lowest level of engagement in the exercise domain. 2. Higher levels of family support and life satisfaction were correlated with more engagement in HPB. 3. The most influencing factor on HPB in the elderly was family support. accounting for 11% of the total variance in HPB. A combination of education level and types of living patterns accounted for 18% of the total variance in HPB. Life satisfaction accounted for 14% of the self-actualization domain, and 5% of the stress management domain, in the sub-dimensions of HPB. Conclusion: Perceived family support was identified as an important factor to predict HPB in the elderly. However, life satisfaction was identified as only partially influencing HPB among the elderly.