Semester

Summer

Date of Graduation

2009

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

College

Eberly College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Psychology

Committee Chair

Julie Patrick

Abstract

Health promoting behaviors are typically categorized as behaviors that move individuals towards optimal health while concurrently decreasing one's susceptibility to disease and illness (Becker & Arnold, 2004; Breslow, 1999). When compared to other developmental age periods, less is known about health promotion in midlife (Merrill & Verbrugge, 1999). Thus, the present study examined the relations among demographic variables, future time perspective, internal health locus of control, and middle-aged adults' engagement in health promotion. Data from 109 middle-aged adults between the ages of 40 and 66 were collected via an online survey. Results indicated that the data fit the model poorly chi2 (df = 6;N = 109) = 13.791 p < .05), CFI = .867, TLI = .667, RMSEA = .110. Despite the poor fit, the path model accounted for a substantial amount of variance in health promotion ( R2 = .30). The model indicated that future time perspective and internal health locus of control were associated with engagement in health promotion. In addition, both age and adults' perceptions of the severity of their chronic health conditions were associated with future time perspective. Findings from this study may help inform the design of health interventions. Specifically, results suggest that interventions should consider integrating future time perspective into a theoretical framework in understanding why middle-aged adults choose to engage in health promotion.

Share

COinS