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Eun, Song, and Gu: Barriers to Health Behaviors in Male and Female Elderly People in Korea
Original Article
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing

Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2008; 38(2): 332-343.

Published online: 30 April 2008

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2008.38.2.332

Barriers to Health Behaviors in Male and Female Elderly People in Korea

Young Eun1, Mee Soon Song2, Mee Ock Gu1

1Professor, College of Nursing, Gerontological Health Research Center, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea.

2Professor, College of Nursing, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Eun, Young. College of Nursing, Gyeongsang National University, 92 Chilam-dong, Jinju 660-751, Korea. Tel: 82-55-751-8873, Fax: 82-55-751-8711, yoeun@gshp.gsnu.ac.kr

Received 19 February 2008       Accepted 4 April 2008

Copyright © 2008 Korean Society of Nursing Science

Abstract

Purpose

This study was done to investigate the practice level of 14 health behaviors between male (N=139) and female (N=175) elderly and to identify the barriers to each health behavior of elderly people in Korea.

Methods

Data were collected from 314 elderly people (65 yr and older) living in metropolitan, urban, and rural areas. Descriptive statistics, χ2-test and ordinal logistic regression were used in data analysis using the SPSS Win 15 version.

Results

1) The performances were different in some health behaviors between male and female elderly people. Male elderly showed better performances in balanced diet, regular exercise, and more than 30 min of exercise, while female elderly showed better performances in restriction of fat and cholesterol, restriction on alcohol, and smoking. There were no differences in stress management and health prevention behaviors between the two groups. 2) The common significant barriers in health behaviors of the elderly in Korea were the lack of habit and physical discomfort. However, the lack of perceived benefit was a significant barrier in male elderly. Lack of time and lack of family support were significant barriers in female elderly people in Korea.

Conclusion

These results suggest that tailored strategies should be developed considering the gender difference to reduce the main barriers of each health behavior in order to improve the health status of elderly people.

Keywords: Health behavior, Barrier, Elderly

Figures and Tables

Table 1
Differences of Performance in Health Behaviors between Male and Female Elderly (n=314)
jkan-38-332-i001
Table 2
Health Behaviors and Barriers in Nutrition between Male and Female Elderly
jkan-38-332-i002

*p<.05. †take a cacium drug. dis.=discomfort; OR=Odds ratio; 95% CI=95% confidence interval.

Table 3
Health Behaviors and Barriers in Exercise and Restriction on Substance Use between Male and Female Elderly
jkan-38-332-i003

*p<.05. †physically weak. OR=Odds ratio; 95% CI=95% confidence interval.

Table 4
Health Behaviors and Barriers in Stress Management and Disease Prevention between Male and Female Elderly
jkan-38-332-i004

*p<.05. †good health. OR=Odds ratio; 95% CI=95% confidence interval.

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