Determinants of physical activity in middle‑aged woman in Isfahan using the health belief model

Nowadays with respect to the automation of the lifestyle, immobility statistics in middle‑aged women has increased and they are at risk for complications of immobility. One of the models used to identify factors associated with physical activity is Health Belief Model utilized in different age and different cultural backgrounds and different results have been obtained from those studies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors affecting on physical activity in middle‑aged women using Health Belief Model.

This descriptive‑correlation study was conducted on 224 middle‑aged women referring to health centers in Isfahan. Health Belief Model structures including perceived susceptibility and severity, perceived barriers and benefits, and self‑efficacy were measured by questionnaire and physical activity was assessed using the international physical activity questionnaire. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficient test and regression analysis.

There wasn’t significant correlation between perceived susceptibility (P = 0.263, r = 0.075) and perceived severity with physical activity duration (P = 0.127, r = 0.058) but there was positive and weak correlation between physical activity duration with perceived benefits (P = 0.001 and r = 0.26) and perceived self‑efficacy (P = 0.001, r = 0.54) and had weak and inverse correlation with perceived barriers (P = 0.001, r = ‑0.25). Regression analysis also showed that from among all the Health Belief Model structures just self‑efficacy structure has influenced on behavior independently and other structures are affected by it.

The obtained results implied on a correlation between benefits, barriers and perceived self‑efficacy with and moderate physical activity. Therefore it is necessary to develop appropriate educational programs with emphasis on structures of Health Belief Model that has the maximum impact on physical activity in middle‑aged women.