2018 Volume 14 Issue 1 Pages 2-16
The purpose of this study is to construct a causal relationship model for psychosocial factors promoting health behavior. A survey was conducted among middle-aged and early-elderly people using the internet and 1,240 participants were analyzed. “Horizontal connection,” “social support,” “cognitive social capital (cognitive SC),” “health view,” and “sense of coherence (SOC) ” were extracted as latent variables of relevant factors of health behavior.
As a result of creating a causal relationship model using covariance structure analysis, it was found that the factors that directly promote health behavior is health view, that is, the ability to feel healthy and confident about controlling one's health at all ages and among all sexes. It strongly influences the health behavior among elderly people compared with middle-aged people. Among elderly women, horizontal connection also directly influenced health behaviors. As a factor that indirectly promotes health behaviors, increasing SOC enhanced health view and promoted health behavior among people of all ages and sexes. In addition, cognitive SC indirectly promoted health behavior by influencing health view among middle-aged women and elderly males and horizontal connections among elderly women. In order to promote health behavior, it is effective to strengthen the SOC, which is a factor that raises health awareness. Furthermore, it is effective to support the strengthening of male cognitive SC and the promotion of horizontal connection among women for the effective promotion of health behaviors prepared for the elderly.
