[Health behavior and its rational in the perception of employees in medium-size and large companies].
BACKGROUND
The paper presents beliefs of employees working in Polish medium-size and large enterprises concerning the most essential aspects of healthy lifestyles and reasons for undertaking particular activities.


METHODS
In the study, carried out in 2002, questionnaire-based interviews were taken in a group of 1134 employees of 250 Polish enterprises employing 100 or more workers.


RESULTS
The following forms of taking care of one's own health were perceived by the respondents as the best ones: healthy nutrition (68%); physical activity and fitness (46%); adequate rest and relaxation (45%); coping with stress (35%); and regular health checkups (34%). There are various reasons why respondents undertake particular activities. Among them willingness to take care of their own good health (79%); maintaining fitness (72%); and enhancing work ability (67%) were most frequently reported. Ill health and illness were less often mentioned (57% and 43%, respectively). Taking care of health is rather motivated by the will to avoid the dependence on negatively perceived health care institutions than by fear of discomfort due to ill health or occurrence of an illness. Health enhancing activities are more often undertaken by better educated, wealthier and younger people, while in case of illness, the opposite groups become more active.


CONCLUSIONS
Social differences in motivation for healthy behaviors stress the need to apply various methods in health promotion programs to be able to influence target social groups.
Puchalski
Krzysztof
K
Zakładu Organizacji Ochrony Zdrowia, Instytutu Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera w Lodzi.
D000328:Adult; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires