Abstract

PURPOSE
The purposes of this study were to compare the motivation for health behavior, health behaviors practices, and ADL of institutionalized elderly women with those of non-institutionalized elderly women.
METHODS
A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted in convenience samples of 144 aged women(80 institutionalized and 64 non-institutionalized) using structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, chi-square-test, and ANCOVA were used for data analysis with SPSS program.
RESULTS
The institutionalized elderly reported significantly higher motivation than the non-institutionalized elderly. In subcategories of motivation, self-efficacy of the institutionalized elderly was significantly lower than that of the non-institutionalized elderly. The non-institutionalized elderly reported significantly lower perceived benefits and significantly higher perceived barriers than institutionalized elderly. The institutionalized elderly reported significantly lower health behaviors in exercise and nutrition than the non-institutionalized elderly. Among health behaviors of the non-institutionalized elderly women, stress management marked the lowest score.
CONCLUSION
To enhance motivation of institutionalized elderly women, interventions for building self-efficacy are needed. To promote the health behavior of the non-institutionalized elderly, stress management programs are needed. All elderly women need exercise.

• Keywords: Elderly; Women; Motivation; Health behavior