title: Correlation between inner strength and health-promoting behaviors in women with heart failure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inner strength is a factor for mental health and well-being and, consequently, a dynamic component of holistic healing. Health-promoting behaviors are appropriate activities to improve health status and prevent the progression of the functional defect resulting from heart failure. The present study aimed to determine the correlation between inner strength and health-promoting behaviors in women with heart failure referred to hospitals affiliated with Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBMU) in 2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, 145 women with hearth failure were selected through convenient sampling from the clients referred to hospitals affiliated with SBMU. The data collection tool included a three-section questionnaire of personal characteristics, inner strength, and health-promoting life profile II (HPLP II). The data analysis used descriptive statistical tests and Pearson correlation coefficient through SPSS version 20.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A direct significant correlation was found between inner strength and all dimensions of health-promoting behaviors and overall health-promoting behaviors (p=0.000) as well as between all dimensions of inner strength (except for the dimension of knowing and searching with physical activity and the dimension of connectedness with personal accountability in healthcare as well as connectedness with physical activity) with health-promoting behaviors (p=0.000 to p=0008).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To improve the level of health and well-being and reduce the costs of care services in women with health failure, close attention should be paid to developing and empowering their inner strength.
authors.affiliation: Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Community Health Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Meimanat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hosseini
authors.affiliation: Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Community Health Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Parvaneh
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vasli
authors.affiliation: MSN, School Of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Sakineh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rashidi
authors.affiliation: Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Health Information Management Department, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
authors.forename: Soodeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shahsavari
keywords: Health-promoting behaviors; Heart failure; Inner strength; Women