Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among the health promoting behavior, pain, self-esteem, family support, self-efficacy in patients with chronic arthritis. Method: The data for this study were collected from February 19, 2003 to April 7, 2003. The subjects were 150 chronic arthritis patients who visited University Hospital in D City. The research instruments used in this study were HPLP II, Visual analogue scale, Self-esteem scale, Family support scale, Self-efficacy scale. In data analysis, SPSS PC ver 10.0 program was utilized and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and t-test, ANOVA, Multiple Stepwise Regression and Pearson's correlation coefficient. Result: The average score of the pain, self-esteem, family support, self-efficacy, health promoting behavior was 5.38, 3.37, 4.29, 70.30, 2.68, respectively and the variable with the highest degree of it's subscale was interpersonal support(3.08), whereas the one with the lowest degree was exercise(1.66). There was a positive correlation(r=.327, p=.000) between the self-esteem and health promoting behavior. There was a positive correlation(r=.540, p=.000) between the family support and the self-efficacy and health promoting behavior. Family support, self-efficacy and marital status were significant factors to explain a variance of health promoting behavior in patients with chronic arthritis(51.6%). health promoting behavior. There was a positive correlation(r=.477, p= .000) between Conclusion: The health promoting behavior were positively correlated with self-esteem, family support and self-efficacy. These findings help to understand relationships among self-esteem, family support and self-efficacy in chronic arthritis patients. In addition, family support, self-efficacy and marital status were the mainly influencing factors of health promoting behavior. Among these variables family support was the most significant factor to predict a health promoting behavior. According to the results of this study, family support must be considered as a main factor in the nursing strategy for health promoting behavior of chronic arthritis patients.