Relationships among health control orientation, self-efficacy, self-care, and subjective well-being in the elderly with hypertension

The purpose of this study was to examine and identify relationships among health control orientation, self-efficacy, self-care behavior, and subjective wellbeing in the elderly with hypertension. The theoretical framework of this study, constructed by using theory synthesis, illustrates how several global factors and specific personal attributes, including health control orientation and self-efficacy, might influence self-care behavior and ultimately, subjective well-being. Six research questions evolving from this theoretical framework guided the study, which consisted of a sample of 121 noninstitutionalized elderly individuals with hypertension. Subjects were recruited through senior luncheon centers, senior activity centers, churches, local organizations for retired persons or for the elderly, friends, newspapers, and advertisements. The packet of research instruments consisted of a demographic data sheet, the Health Control subscale of the Health Hardiness Inventory, the Exercise of Self-Care Agency, and the Index of Well-Being. Correlations and multiple regressions were the principal statistics used for data analysis. In general, the findings support the relationships identified in the proposed framework. Health control orientation was highly correlated with self-efficacy and self-care. Self-efficacy was also highly correlated with self-care. Health control orientation, self-efficacy, and self-care were all moderately associated with subjective well-being. Hierarchical regression showed that health control orientation and self-efficacy explained 39% of the variance in self-care. Hierarchical regression showed that health control orientation and self-efficacy accounted for 22% of the variance of subjective well-being, and the entry of self-care significantly increased the variance by 5%Nursin