Abstract
The purpose of this study is to reveal the themes of people's life stories about health promotion through the lives of members of a self-help group aimed at health promotion through life stories. The 12 participants were members of the same health promotion circle. Using the life story interview technique, participants were asked to talk about their health promotion experience through the story of their lives. The data were analyzed qualitatively.
The life stories of members of different ages, sexes, states of health, and work histories presented various themes. Although the context and content of each of their experiences was different, common themes were family connections, timing, existence of friends, and thorough health care caused by sickness and poor health conditions.
The life stories of the participants confirmed the influence of close relatives and friends on health promotion. The turning point of health promotion came with retirement and the growing up of their children. The sharing of their stories in the circle proved valuable in improving the quality of health promotion and served as a means to maintain health promotion.
In conclusion, to support self-help groups aimed at individual health promotion, it is important to be flexible in one's approach to health. And group activities should be introduced as to help the self-help group fulfill its function as a place of continuous health promotion in which each member is valued through his/her life and where new health-related values are established.
