The association between health-promoting lifestyle profile and chronic diseases with self-efficacy in performing health behaviors among Iranian elderly: A cross-sectional study

Health-promoting lifestyle profile (HPLP) includes behaviors that prevent diseases and promote health. Self-efficacy is one of the most important factors that affect adopting a healthy lifestyle. This study was conducted to investigate the association between HPLP and chronic diseases with self-efficacy in performing health behaviors among the elderly living in Shiraz. 

In this cross-sectional study 382 elderly aged over 60 years were selected from two Older People’s Associations and a medical clinic in Shiraz (2017). Healthy lifestyle and self-efficacy were assessed by using the HPLP-II scale and self-rated abilities for health practice scale (SRAHPS-), ADL daily activity and IADL life instrument activity scales. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, ANOVA, (Tukey’s post-hoc test), Pearson’s correlation coefficient and linear regression using SPSS v.22 at 0.05 significance.

The mean scores of the HPLP-II (134.29 ± 26.82) & SRAHPS were (65.03 ± 17.73). All demographic variables, except age, had a significant relationship with healthy lifestyle behaviors (P<0.001). Also self-efficacy was significantly correlated with healthy lifestyle behaviors (r=0.246, P<0.001) and predicted 49.6% of the variance of healthy lifestyle behaviors.

It seems that all aspects of healthy life style and self-efficacy should be considered in designing and implementing health promotion interventions for the elderly.