Factors associated with health-promoting behaviors among Elders in Prong Maduea Subdistrict, Mueang District, Nakhon Pathom Province

Abstract

This study was a descriptive study. The objectives of this study were to study the relationship between personal factors including age, the number of years of study, income, perceived benefits of health promotion, and perceived barriers to health promotion and health promotion behaviors among the elderly, which are exercise and recreational activities, nutrition, stress management health responsibility interpersonal relationship and spiritual development. The sample consisted of 327 elderly people in the Prong Maduea Subdistrict, Mueang District, Nakhon Pathom Province. Multistage random sampling was used to recruit the study participant. The research instruments consisted of a personal data questionnaire, perceived benefits of health promotion questionnaire, perceived barriers to health promotion questionnaire, and health promotion behavior questionnaire. The reliability of the questionnaire was determined using Cronbach's alpha coefficient method, which was .86- .92. Descriptive statistics and Pearson's correlation coefficient were performed to analyze the data. The results of the study demonstrated that the sample group's overall health promotion behavior was at a good level. The health promotion behaviors of the overall sample showed that exercise and recreational activities, stress management, health responsibility, interpersonal relationship, and spiritual development is at a good level except the nutritional aspect was at a fair level. Factors related to health promotion behaviors were: age had a negative relationship with health promotion behaviors (r =- .35, p-value < .05), income, and perceived benefits of health promotion was a positive correlation with health promotion behaviors (r = .42 and .38 respectively, p-value < .05). The results of this study can be used as a basis for the development of health promotion behaviors in the elderly group less educated and having low perceived benefits of health promotion. In addition, the information obtained in the study on the design of service systems, especially in the field of nutrition, creates awareness of the benefits of health promotion. Moreover, annual health assessment services should be offered for the elders.