Investigation on association between self-efficacy, perceived barriers and social supports with health promoting behaviors in elderly in Dena city

Health promoting behavior is one of the main criteria of health and it has a potential impact on improvement of health and quality of life. In addition it leads to a reduction in health care services expenditure. This study is conducted to identify the effect of self-efficacy and perceived barriers and social supports on the determination of health promoting behaviors in elderly in Dena city. In this descriptive-analytic study, 120 of elderly including 59 women and 61 men were selected by simple random sampling in Dena city. Data was collected by a questionnaire which included various parts (participants’ demographic characteristics, health promoting behaviors, self-efficacy, perceived barriers and social support of health promoting behaviors). The data was analyzed by descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation test, independent t-test and multiple linear regression analysis. The mean score of health promoting behaviors was 57.5 ± 10.7. There was a statistically significant positive association between self-efficacy, perceived social supports and health promoting behaviors in general and also stress management, physical activity, intrapersonal social relationship and prevention subscale (P< 0.005). A statistically significant adverse association was observed between perceived barriers and health promoting behaviors in general and also stress management subscale. Findings of this research indicate a direct association between self-efficacy, perceived social supports and health promoting behaviors. Therefore health authorities may improve self-efficacy by planning health promotion training programs. Families may also increase social supports and therefore make a change in elderly behavior by providing needed emotional support for them.