A study of factors affecting health-promoting behaviors to young-elderly adults in urban and rural communities

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify the factors affecting health-promoting behaviors in young-elderly adults in urban and rural communities. The subjects were 202 men and women aged 65–74 years. Multiple regression analysis was performed. The most significant predictor of health-promoting behaviors was health-related behaviors (β = 0.574, P < 0.001) in elderly adults from urban communities, and this model accounted for 63.1% of the variance in health-promoting behaviors (F = 47.661, P < 0.001). The most significant predictor of health-promoting behaviors was perceived benefit (β = 0.738, P < 0.001) in subjects from rural communities, and this model accounted for 66.2% of the variance in health-promoting behaviors (F = 59.168, P < 0.001). Health management personnel should recognize the importance of health management for healthy aging individuals and implement preventive health management policies and nursing interventions actively, with the objective of promoting the performance of health-promoting behaviors in elderly adults. © 2015 SERSC.