Determinants of health-promoting lifestyle behaviors in rural older women

The purpose of this study was to: (a) describe the health-promoting lifestyle behaviors and attempts at change among 102 community-dwelling rural women aged 65 and older, and (b) determine the extent to which personal influences (demographics, definition of health, and perceived health status) and contextual influences (sources of health information and provider counseling) explain health-promoting lifestyle behaviors and attempts at change among those women. They scored highest on frequency of nutrition behaviors and lowest on frequency of physical activity behaviors. They had attempted change in from zero to five areas of health-promoting lifestyle within the past year. Multiple regression analyses revealed that younger age, living with other(s), defining health as wellness, better perceived mental health, more sources of health information and provider counseling were significantly associated with health-promoting lifestyle behaviors. Only younger age and more sources of health information were significantly associated with attempts at change. These findings provide information that is relevant in designing interventions to enhance health-promoting lifestyle behaviors among rural older women.