Older men's health: motivation, self-ratings, and behaviors.
BACKGROUND
There is a documented need to examine the complex motivational systems that lead individuals to adopt health-promoting behaviors and to evaluate the psychosocial aspects of male health. A study focused on health motivation as a determinant of self-rated health and health behaviors among older men was therefore undertaken.


OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to explore the relations among health motivation, self-rated health, and health behaviors in community-dwelling older men.


METHODS
A descriptive, correlational survey design was used for this study of 135 community-dwelling men ages 55 years and older. The questionnaire packet included a demographic tool, the Older Men's Health Program and Screening Inventory, the Health-Promotion Activities of Older Adults Measure, and the Health Self-Determinism Index.


RESULTS
Older men with more intrinsic motivation rated their health as better (p <or=.001) and assessed their lifestyles as more healthy (p <or=.001) than did their counterparts with more extrinsic motivation. Whereas anticipated benefits (a potential motivator) were significantly related to health-promoting behaviors (p <or=.001), health program attendance (p <or=.001), and health screening participation (p <or=.01), the Health Self-Determinism Index score did not demonstrate significant relations with any of these three variables.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that promoting self-motivation may be key to increasing older men's perceptions of health and well-being. Further exploration of anticipated benefits as a motivator of health-promotion activities is warranted, as well as intervention studies to promote older men's health screening and program attendance.
Loeb
Susan J
SJ
Department of Nursing, University of Delaware, Newark 19716, USA. sloeb@udel.edu
D001741:Black or African American / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001213:Asian / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008571:Men / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D008873:Mid-Atlantic Region; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009042:Motivation; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology