Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to examine the levels of and relationships between physical health status, depression and health behaviors and the factors affecting health behavior in the elderly.
METHOD
The subjects of this study were 118 elderly people aged over 60 living in urban and rural areas. The data were collected by interview through questionnaires from December 1, 2003 to January 30, 2004. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression.
RESULTS
The results of the study are as follows. 1. The mean score of the physical health status was 63.88 out of a total of 78 and the mean score of depression 42.71 out of 80. The mean score of health behaviors was 126 out of 165 and 3.83 point out of 5. In terms of sub-domains of health behaviors, emotional areas showed the highest mean score (3.98). 2. There was a significant positive correlation between health behaviors and the physical health status (r=.491, P<.001), while there was a significant negative correlation between depression and physical health status(r=.626, P<.001), and depression and health behavior(r=.784, P<.001). 3. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that the most powerful predictor of health behaviors was psychological health, namely depression. A combination of depression, perceived health status and religion accounted for 65% of the variance in health behaviors of the elderly.
CONCLUSION
From the results of the study, we recommend that the development of a nursing intervention program for the health behaviors including the factors affecting the elderly. It suggests the need to focus more on psychological and spiritual health and the development of nursing interventions for health promotion among older adults.