title: Long-term married couples' health promotion behaviors: identifying factors that impact decision-making.
abstract: Knowledge about health promotion behaviors and their determinants in older individuals is scant. Even less is known about persons in long-term marriages, although a growing interdependence in health decision-making has been suggested. The purpose of this study was to identify determinants of health promotion activities in older adults who were in long-term marriages. Pender's Health Promotion Model and a proposed re-conceptualization of Pender's interpersonal influences were used to guide selection of study variables. Perceived barriers and perceived self-efficacy, two behavior-specific cognitions, and relationship quality and social support, proposed interpersonal influences, were hypothesized to predict participation in health promotion behaviors. A convenience sample of 80 individuals in long-term marriages was recruited. Regression analysis identified four predictor variables as explaining 31% of the participation in health promotion behaviors: relationship quality, perceived barriers, perceived self-efficacy, and social support. Implications for nursing practice and for further research are discussed.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, University of Rhode Island, Kingston 02881-2021, USA.
authors.forename: Cynthia A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Padula
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sullivan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology*; D008960:Models, Psychological; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012237:Rhode Island; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors