Health Promoting Behaviors and General Health among the Elderly in Qazvin: A Cross Sectional Study

Introduction: Health promoting behaviors (HPBs) are one of the main criteria to determine health. HPBs have a complex nature and are influenced by several factors. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between HPBs and general health in the elderly in Qazvin. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 372 older people were enrolled using convenience sampling. Data were collected using demographic information questionnaire, HPBs checklist, and Goldberg and Hillierchr('39')s 12-items of the General Health Questionnaire. Data were analyzed by independent t-test and chi-square test. Results: The results showed that 21% of the elderly were not in a desirable general health status. Walking (61%) and using low-fat foods (73.9%) were among the most uncommon HPBs while lack of alcohol consumption (97%) and blood pressure control (95.4%) were among the most common HPBs. The elderly who walked reported a significantly higher general health (P < 0.001), while the elderly who reported using low-salt (P = 0.008) and low-fat (P = 0.008) diet had a significantly lower general health. Conclusion: While the rate of doing certain HPBs, such as walking, was not good, almost 80% of the subjects were in a satisfactory general health status. Efforts to expand and improve HPBs, especially walking, in the elderly can affect their general health status.

Health Promoting Behaviors and General Health among the Elderly in Qazvin: A Cross Sectional Study Keywords:

Health , Aged , Health Promotion , Behavior