Abstract
The purpose of this study was to identify the relationships among health promoting behaviors, Health Locus of Control(HLOC), and response patterns to HLOC in Korean elderly. The sample was composed of 162 healthy elderly ranging in age from sixties to eighties. The instruments for this study were modified Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile (45 items, 4 scales), and Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (18 items). For the in data analysis, SPSS PC$^{＋}$ program was uilized for descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, t-test, ANOVA and Stepwise multiple regression. The results of the study are as follows : 1. The total mean score for the HPLP was 2.411 (range 1-4), and the mean scores on the subscales were 3.324 for nutition, 2.709 for interpersonal support, 2.495 for exercise,2.225 for health responsibility, 2.205 for self actualization, 2.026 for stress management. 2. The mean scores for the HLOC in the elderly were HLOC-I : 23.531, HLOC-P : 21.914, HLOC-C : 18.667. 3. The response patterns of the HLOC identified eight types, pure internal, pure powerful others, pure chance, double external, believers in control, yea sayer, nay sayer and complex control. The “believers in control” was the largest group (22.8%), and “yea sayer” was the next largest group(17.9%). The “nay sayer”(5%) was the smallest group. 4. Demographic variables, such as education, economic status, religion and the perception of the health status showed strong connections to health promoting behaviors. 5. The HLOC-I and health promoting behavior were correlated positively(r＝.165, P＝.017), but the HLOC-P, the HLOC-C and the health promoting behavior were not correlated at the level of statistical significance. 6. There was not significant difference in health promoting behavior depending on the response patterns of the HLOC(F=1.171, P=.108). But, there were significant differences in two subscales of health promoting behavior exercise (F=3.279, P=.002), and stress management (F=3.165, P＝.003). 7. Education, the perception of the health and economic status explained 21.0% of the variance for health promoting behaviors. These results suggest that several demographic factors are important factors in predicting the level of health promoting behaviors in elderly. So to enhance the health promoting behavior, nurses should use the different nursing strategies depending on the demographic characters of the elderly.