title: The Relationship Between Health-Promoting Behaviors and Metabolic Syndrome in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.
abstract: Poor health-promoting behaviors increase the risk of chronic disease and disability in older adults. Nevertheless, the predictors of health-promoting behaviors and their relationship with metabolic syndrome have been poorly characterized in older Taiwanese adults.
  
  
  
  To explore the determinants of health-promoting behaviors in community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan and the relationship of health-promoting behaviors with metabolic syndrome.
  
  
  
  A cross-sectional design was used. A convenience sample of 200 community residents aged 60 years and over was recruited from two large communities in New Taipei City, Taiwan. Data collection included physical examination and a structured questionnaire including measures of health status, health-promoting behaviors, self-efficacy, social support, and metabolic syndrome.
  
  
  
  Metabolic syndrome was found in 60% of older Taiwanese adults. These participants had higher scores in interpersonal relationships but lower scores in physical activity. Half of the health-promoting behaviors were explained by behavior-specific cognitions and affect, and 44% of behavior-specific cognitions and affect was explained by the health status of the older adult.
  
  
  
  Physical activity should be promoted in older Taiwanese adults. Positive behavior-specific cognitions and affect and better health status might impact the health-promoting behaviors of these adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Personnel, Taipei City Government, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tzu-Ting
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: I-Ju
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shu-Ling
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan afchiou@ym.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Ai-Fu
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Chiou
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan
keywords: health-promoting behavior; metabolic syndrome; older adults