Influencing Factors of Well-Aging Behaviors According to Life-Course

Wednesday, 24 July 2013

GiYon Kim, RN, PhD
Department of Nursing, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, South Korea
Boeun Kwon, PhD, RN
Adult Nursing, Seoul Womens' College of Nursing, Seoul, South Korea
Youn-Jung Son, PhD
Department of Nursing, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, South Korea

Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to improve their understanding about well-aging behaviors according to life-course in women.

Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to identify Influencing factors of well-aging behaviors according to life-course in women.

Purpose: With the rise in the average life expectancy, the interest in well-aging has increased. Well-aging is a multidimensional concept in which the appropriate maintenance of one’s mental, cognitive and social function as well as physical health is emphasized. In other words, well-aging can be achieved when mental aspects (self-esteem or self-confidence), physical aspects (good lifestyles and reduction of risk factors associated with disease), and social aspects (active engagement with life) have been achieved. For well-aging, it is necessary to activate efforts such as maintenance of health lifestyle from childhood or adolescence rather than anti-aging efforts in mid-life or older age. Women may be more vulnerable to the aging process compared to men, because women experience hormonal changes throughout life span, that is, during pregnancy, delivery, and menopause. Most previous research on aging has been focused on aging among middle-aged or older women, and there has been no consideration of women’s characteristics according to life-course and effects of physical, psychosocial, and hormonal changes experienced throughout life span. The purpose of this study is to identify the factors influencing well-aging behavior according to the life-course of Korean women.

 Methods: Design: Cross-sectional study. Sample: The participants were a convenience sample of Korean women 14 years or older, living in four main provinces and the capital city of Seoul. Instruments: For measurement of well-aging behaviors as a dependent variable, a questionnaire composed by our research team based on previous research was used. Data analysis: Data are being analyzed using multiple regressions to identify factors influencing well-aging behaviors according to life-course.

 Results: None to report at time of abstract submission.

 Conclusion: From the results of this study, we expect that health professionals will be able to improve their understanding about well-aging and develop programs to enhance well-aging behavior according to life-course.