title: Joint trajectories of multiple health-related behaviors among the elderly.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main goal of this study was to identify the multiple trajectories of the following four health behaviors among the elderly by gender: smoking, drinking alcohol, getting regular exercise, and having a health checkup
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were from a longitudinal survey conducted among the elderly from 1996 to 2007 in Taiwan. In total, 5,880 respondents were included in the analysis
  
  
  RESULTS
  The trajectories of health-related behaviors differed between males and females. Five groups of male elderly were identified: smoking, inactive, healthy lifestyle, smoking and drinking, and quitting. Three groups of female elderly were identified: smoking and drinking, inactive, and healthy lifestyle. Age, education, self-rated health, depressive symptoms, and economic satisfaction at baseline were associated with the health behavior trajectories
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The nature of healthy behaviors and risky behaviors may differ. Thus, multiple trajectories can exhibit patterns that differ from those of single behavior trajectories. Strategies designed to promote health need to consider both gender and behavior patterns which may change over time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Care Administration, Asia University, No 500, Lioufeng Road, Wufeng, Taichung, 41354 Taiwan, ROC. gingerhsu@seed.net.tw
authors.forename: Hui-Chuan
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Dih-Ling
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Luh
authors.forename: Wen-Chiung
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Ling-Yen
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Pan
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology