title: Correlates of self-care among the independent elderly: self-concept affects well-being.
abstract: There was a significant positive correlation between self-care and self-concept, suggesting that psychosocial interventions that enhance an older person's self-concept may be expected to improve self-care and, conversely, that participation in self-care activities may be expected to strengthen self-concept. Although functional health status was not significantly correlated with self-care, it was related to self-concept, suggesting either that functional health has a role in maintaining self-concept among older persons or that self-concept positively contributes to functional health status. Self-concept and self-care can be enhanced in older persons by communicating respect and demonstrating caring behaviors, reinforcing health-promoting behaviors, encouraging activities of daily living that contribute to independence, and by avoiding a focus on self-care deficits.
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Smits
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Kee
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000379:methods; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012648:Self Care; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires