Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between the self-esteem, social support and health promoting lifestyle of the elderly in a community. The sample consisted of 147 elderly, and data were collected from September 1 to October 15, 2001. The instrument of this study was a structured questionnaire including Health Promoting Lifestyle (47 items), Social Support(18 items), Self-Esteem(10 items), Socio-demographic Characteristics. Analysis of the data was done by use of descriptive statistics, ANOVA, Pearson Correlation Coefficient. The results of this study are as follows: 1. The degrees of self-esteem of the elderly were mean score $25{\pm}2.98$ points, socio-demographic characteristics containing meaningful difference with self-esteem was not significant. 2. The degrees of social support by elderly were mean score $55.03{\pm}9.60$ points and social support according to the socio-demographic characteristics showed meaning difference in family structure $\ulcorner$with off spring$\lrcorner$ (F=8.50, p=.000), health status $\ulcorner$good$\lrcorner$ (t=2.19, p=.030), smoking $\ulcorner$below 1 packet daily$\lrcorner$ (F=4.88 p=.009). 3. The degrees of health enhancing lifestyle by elderly were mean score $113.61{\pm}20.12$ points and health enhancing lifestyle according to the socio-demographic characteristics showed meaning difference in education level $\ulcorner$middle school and above$\lrcorner$ (F=6.37 p=.002), occupation before retirement $\ulcorner$profession, technician, employee of company, education$\lrcorner$ (F=5.00, p=.003), health status $\ulcorner$good$\lrcorner$ (t=3.14, p=0.002), exercise $\ulcorner$weekly 2-3$\lrcorner$ (F=4.31, p=.006), drinking $\ulcorner$weekly 1$\lrcorner$ (F=2.74, p= .046). 4. The item mean score of personal relationship support field in health enhancing lifestyle were $2.90{\pm}.60$ points. item mean scores of exercise and nutrition were $2.26{\pm}.39$ points, item mean scores of stress managing field were $2.25{\pm}.49$ points, item mean scores of health responsible field were $2.14{\pm}.61$ points. 5. The relationship between self-esteem and health enhancing lifestyle revealed a significant correlation(r=.169. p=.041), but self-esteem and social support, showed no significant correlation, and health enhancing lifestyle and social support, revealed a significant correlation(r=.654, p=.001).

Keywords

• Self-esteem and social support;
• Health-promoting lifestyle

• 자아존중감;
• 사회적지지;
• 건강증진생활;