Effects of Perceived Health Status, Self-efficacy, Lifestyle Habits, and Wisdom on Health Conservation among Middle-Aged Women

Objectives: The purposes of this research are to examine the relationship among perceived health status, self-efficacy, lifestyle habits, wisdom and health conservation, and to analyze the effects of perceived health status, self-efficacy, lifestyle habits, and wisdom on health conservation. Methods/Statistical Analysis: Subjects of this research are 135 middle-aged women of 40~64 years old residing in C city and M city. They were given copies of the questionnaire. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression. Findings: There were statistically significant relationship between health conservation and the following independent variables: perceived health status (r=.327, p<.001), self-efficacy (r=.475, p<.001), lifestyle habits (r=.411, p<.001), and wisdom (r=.647, p<.001). The relative explanatory powers of independent variables in descending order are as follows: wisdom 39.6%, lifestyle habits 6.0%, living level 3.8%, education 2.3%, self-efficacy 1.8%, and exercise 1.6%. In total, those variables explained 53.6% of health conservation. Applications/Improvements: Considering elements found to be influential in improving health conservation of middle-aged women- wisdom, lifestyle habits 6.0, living level, education, and self-efficacy-nursing mediation should be developed. It is also necessary to search for other elements which can help predict health conservation. In particular, as wisdom was found to be a crucial element in improving health conservation, this research suggests that programs be developed and repetitive researches be done to enhance the wisdom.