Predictors of Quality of Life in Women: Hormone Therapy Self-Efficacy and Health-Promoting Behaviors

ABSTRACT

Osteoporosis and coronary heart diseases (CHD) are two major health problems that affect postmenopausal women. The literature emphasizes that prevention of osteoporosis and/or CHD through the practices of health-promoting behaviors and hormone therapy usage can improve quality of life (QOL) for women. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of health-promoting behaviors and hormone therapy self-efficacy on QOL. The sample contained 210 women between the ages of 45 and 84 years of age, who completed three instruments developed specifically for this study. The majority of the participants perceived moderate satisfaction with their life as a whole, performed many health-promoting behaviors, and perceived slight confidence in their ability to continue hormone therapy. Among current users of hormones, hormone therapy self-efficacy beliefs explained 31% of the variance in QOL. Among non-users of hormones, health-promoting behaviors explained 7% of the variance in QOL. In the entire sample, health-promoting behaviors explained 10% of the variance in QOL. There were significant differences between current users of hormones and non-users of hormones in QOL and in health-promoting behaviors. The study has implications for intervention and for future research.

KEYWORDS:

• Quality of life
• health promotion
• hormone therapy