Health Promoting Behaviors and General Health among the Elderly in Qazvin: A Cross Sectional Study

Introduction: Health promoting behaviors (HPBs) are one of the main criteria to determine health. HPBs have a complex nature and are influenced by several factors. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between HPBs and general health in the elderly in Qazvin. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 372 older people were enrolled using convenience sampling. Data were collected using demographic information questionnaire, HPBs checklist, and Goldberg and Hillier's 12-items of the General Health Questionnaire. Data were analyzed by independent t-test and chi-square test. Results: The results showed that 21% of the elderly were not in a desirable general health status. Walking (61%) and using low-fat foods (73.9%) were among the most uncommon HPBs while lack of alcohol consumption (97%) and blood pressure control (95.4%) were among the most common HPBs. The elderly who walked reported a significantly higher general health (P < 0.001), while the elderly who reported using low-salt (P = 0.008) and low-fat (P = 0.008) diet had a significantly lower general health. Conclusion: While the rate of doing certain HPBs, such as walking, was not good, almost 80% of the subjects were in a satisfactory general health status. Efforts to expand and improve HPBs, especially walking, in the elderly can affect their general health status.