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Original Article
The Relationship between Optimistic Bias about Health Crisis and Health Behavior
Su Ho Park, Sul Hee Lee, Eun Mi Ham
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2008;38(3):403-409.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2008.38.3.403
Published online: June 30, 2008

1Researcher, National Cancer Control Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.

2Nurse, Konkuk University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

3Professor, Department of Nursing, Konkuk University, Chungju, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Ham, Eun Mi. Department of Nursing, Konkuk University, 322 Danwol-dong, Chungju 380-701, Korea. Tel: 82-43-840-3958, Fax: 82-43-840-3958, hem2003@kku.ac.kr
• Received: February 25, 2008   • Accepted: April 8, 2008

Copyright © 2008 Korean Society of Nursing Science

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  • Purpose
    This study was performed to identify the relationship between optimistic bias about health crisis and health behavior of Korean adults in a crisis of health, and to prepare baseline data for developing a health education and promotion program.
  • Methods
    Study subjects were 595 adults aged from 19 to 64 who live in Korea. Data were collected through questionnaires administered by one interviewer. Descriptive statistics and Pearson's correlation coefficient were calculated using the SPSS program.
  • Results
    The average score for optimistic bias about health crisis was 2.69, and that for health behavior was 107.05. The optimistic bias about health crisis showed a significantly positive correlation with health behavior (r=.187, p=.000).
  • Conclusion
    To make our results more useful, it is necessary to identity the causal relationship between health attitudes as an explanatory variable and optimistic bias as an outcome variable. In addition, a relatively low score in optimistic bias from this research compared to other studies must be explained through further studies considering unique Korean cultural background. Moreover, research of the relationship between optimistic bias about health crisis and health behavior looking at people who don't have good health behaviors is needed.
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Table 1
General Characteristics of Subjects
jkan-38-403-i001.jpg

*Separation, divorce, separation by death.

Table 2
Optimistic Bias, Health Behavior according to General Characteristics (N=595)
jkan-38-403-i002.jpg

*Separation, divorce, separation by death.

Table 3
Score of Optimistic Bias, Health Behavior (N=595)
jkan-38-403-i003.jpg
Table 4
Health Behavior according to Optimistic Bias (N=595)
jkan-38-403-i004.jpg
Table 5
Correlation between Optimistic Bias and Health Behavior
jkan-38-403-i005.jpg

Figure & Data

REFERENCES

    Citations

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    The Relationship between Optimistic Bias about Health Crisis and Health Behavior
    The Relationship between Optimistic Bias about Health Crisis and Health Behavior

    General Characteristics of Subjects

    *Separation, divorce, separation by death.

    Optimistic Bias, Health Behavior according to General Characteristics (N=595)

    *Separation, divorce, separation by death.

    Score of Optimistic Bias, Health Behavior (N=595)

    Health Behavior according to Optimistic Bias (N=595)

    Correlation between Optimistic Bias and Health Behavior

    Table 1 General Characteristics of Subjects

    *Separation, divorce, separation by death.

    Table 2 Optimistic Bias, Health Behavior according to General Characteristics (N=595)

    *Separation, divorce, separation by death.

    Table 3 Score of Optimistic Bias, Health Behavior (N=595)

    Table 4 Health Behavior according to Optimistic Bias (N=595)

    Table 5 Correlation between Optimistic Bias and Health Behavior


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