TY - JOUR AU - Fuchs, Reinhard A2 - Fuchs, Reinhard A2 - Heath, Gregory W. A2 - Wheeler, Frances C. DB - BISp DP - BISp KW - Aktivität, körperliche KW - Ernährung KW - Gesundheitserziehung KW - Lebensführung KW - Morbidität KW - Prävention KW - Sportaktivität KW - Sportmedizin LA - eng TI - Perceived morbidity as a determinant of health behavior TT - Wahrgenommene Morbiditaet als Determinante des Gesundheitsverhaltens PY - 1992 N2 - It is hypothesized that perceibed morbidity, a concept closely related to perceived vulnerability, is an important determinant of health behaviors. In this cross-sectional study (N = 2740), perceived morbidity was conceptualized as a categorical variable defining six distinct morbidity groups: the hypertension, high cholesterol, angina pectoris, heart attack, stroke and 'morbidity-free' groups. We used analyses of covariance to identify differences in health behaviors between the six groups; the analyses were done separately for middle-aged (40-60 years old) and older (>60 years old) respondents. Results show that perceived morbidity had a significant effect on fat consumption (P<0.001) and on physical activity (P<0.01). In both age ranges, the morbidity-free group had the highest fat consumption; among the middle-aged respondents, the level of physical activity was significantly lower in the morbidity-free group than in the heart attack group. Furthermore, respondents in the high cholesterol group showed consistently a 'better' health behavior than people in the hypertension group. Overall, these results suggest that the concept of perceibed morbidity may be useful in explaining inter-individual differences in health behaviors. Verf.-Referat SP - S. 327-334 SN - 0268-1153 JO - Health Education Research IS - 3 VL - 7 M3 - Gedruckte Ressource ID - PU199411073988 ER -