The sense of self-efficacy in maintaining health promoting behaviors in older adults

Abstract

This descriptive study used a qualitative approach and was developed with older adults who were members of a recreational center in Porto Alegre (Brazil). The objective was to understand the influence of the sense of self-efficacy on maintaining health-promoting behaviors among the participants. Interviews were performed with eleven older adults who obtained scores on the WHOQOL-brief questionnaire with standard deviation equal or above the group mean (>;85.18). Content analysis of the interviews revealed four categories: positive personal attitudes and attributes; expectation to enjoy a higher quality of life; expectation to live longer; and other aspects that make behavior maintenance easier. The study found evidence that these individuals sustain health-promoting behaviors similar to what is recommended by health professionals and organizations. It appears that they maintain those behaviors due to their positive sense of self-efficacy.