Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between the self-esteem, social support and health promoting lifestyle of the elderly in a community. The sample consisted of 147 elderly, and data were collected from September 1 to October 15, 2001. The instrument of this study was a structured questionnaire including Health Promoting Lifestyle (47 items), Social Support(18 items), Self-Esteem(10 items), Socio-demographic Characteristics. Analysis of the data was done by use of descriptive statistics, ANOVA, Pearson Correlation Coefficient. The results of this study are as follows: 1. The degrees of self-esteem of the elderly were mean score 25+/-2.98 points ,socio-demographic characteristics containing meaningful difference with self-esteem was not significant. 2. The degrees of social support by elderly were mean score 55.03+/-9.60 points and social support according to the socio-demographic characteristics showed meaning difference in family structure with lower right quadrantoff springupper left quadrant(F=8.50, p=.000), health statuslower right quadrantgoodupper left quadrant(t=2.19, p=.030), smokinglower right quadrantbelow 1 packet dailyupper left quadrant (F=4.88, p=.009). 3. The degrees of health enhancing lifestyle by elderly were mean score 113.61+/-20.12 points and health enhancing lifestyle according to the socio-demographic characteristics showed meaning difference in education level lower right quadrantmiddle school and aboveupper left quadrant(F=6.37 p=.002), occupation before retirement lower right quadrantprofession, technician, employee of company, educationupper left quadrant (F=5.00, p=.003), health statuslower right quadrantgoodupper left quadrant (t=3.14, p=0.002), exerciselower right quadrantweekly 2-3upper left quadrant (F=4.31, p=.006), drinking lower right quadrantweekly 1upper left quadrant (F=2.74, p=.046). 4. The item mean score of personal relationship support field in health enhancing lifestyle were 2.90+/-.60 points, item mean scores of exercise and nutrition were 2.26+/-.39 points, item mean scores of stress managing field were 2.25+/-.49 points, item mean scores of health responsible field were 2.14+/-.61 points. 5. The relationship between self-esteem and health enhancing lifestyle revealed a significant correlation(r=.169, p=.041), but self-esteem and social support, showed no significant correlation, and health enhancing lifestyle and social support, revealed a significant correlation(r=.654, p=.001).