Search

This study develops a self-construal framework containing both individual- and social-level variables to explain bloggers' inner motivations to create contents voluntarily. With the aim of bridging the gaps in previous blogger-related studies, this research explores intrinsic and psychological benefits behind voluntary bloggers' sharing behaviour via social network sites or weblogs. The proposed structural equation model is tested with survey data from 414 bloggers, and all hypotheses are statistically supported. The findings indicate that voluntary bloggers' involvement results from self-reassurance, which is induced by a self-construction process comprising both independent and interdependent selves. This study enriches extant literature on bloggers' behaviour by incorporating self-construal theory into the sphere of creating contents. In essence, the self-construal model paves the way for future comprehensive psychological frameworks, which can help researchers and practitioners deepen their understanding of blogger enthusiasm in self-building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim This aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the utilisation of general health examinations and health and a healthy lifestyle. Methods The data were from a 5-wave panel of older Taiwanese people. Health was defined as the absence of chronic diseases and physical function difficulties. A healthy lifestyle included no smoking, no alcohol consumption and engaging in regular exercise. Generalised linear modelling was applied. Results The individuals with more chronic diseases were more likely to undergo health examinations, but the rate of change declined over time. Having more physical function disabilities may reduce the likelihood of undergoing health examinations. Individuals who engaged in regular exercise were more likely to undergo health examinations. Conclusion Health examination utilisation is related to health and healthy lifestyle among older people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The significance of physical activity has been noticed. However, the dynamic change and the heterogeneity of physical activity patterns among older people are little explored. Purpose: This study aimed to identify the trajectory patterns of engaging in physical activity over time and its related factors. Method: Nationally representative four-wave panel data from Taiwanese older adults, gathered between 1996 and 2007, were used ( n = 4,018). The participants ranged in age from 50 to 96 years old. 'Being physically active' was defined as performing physical activity in sports or exercises at least three times per week and lasting for at least 30 min each time. Group-based trajectory analysis was performed for analyzing the data. Results: Four trajectory patterns were identified: inactive (47.83 %), decreasing (12.21 %), increasing (23.36 %), and active (16.60 %). Older respondents and those with more education were more likely to be active. Those respondents having more depressive symptoms, having more physical functional limitations, and having jobs were less likely to be physically active in the decreasing, increasing, and active patterns. Conclusion: There is heterogeneity among the trajectory patterns of physical activity across time in the older adults. Different strategies of physical activity promotion for the older people should be developed by the group characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study examined the relationships between health literacy, self-efficacy and preventive care utilization among older adults in Taiwan. Methods: The data were from a longitudinal survey, 'Taiwan Longitudinal Study in Aging' in 2003 and 2007. A total of 3479 participants who completed both two waves were included for analysis. Health literacy first was constructed through education, cognitive function and disease knowledge through structural equation modeling (SEM); then, the associations of health literacy to later self-efficacy and preventive care were examined. Results: The model fit of SEM was good, indicating that the construct of health literacy was appropriate. Healthy literacy showed a moderate positive effect on self-efficacy and a small positive effect on preventive care utilization. Conclusions: Health literacy increases self-efficacy and utilization of preventive care. Promoting people's health knowledge and health literacy is suggested. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2013; 13: 70-76. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the aggregation of health behaviors among fourth graders in northern Taiwan., Methods: This study conducted an analysis of data collected from the 2001 Child and Adolescent Behaviors in Long-term Evolution (CABLE) project, which included a sample of 2075 fourth grade students. Factor analysis and cluster analysis were used to investigate the aggregation patterns., Results: After factor analysis, we found that the 18 health behaviors could be grouped under five factors. These five factors were named: healthy behavior, rule-breaking behavior, substance use behavior, violent behavior, and pleasure-seeking behavior, according to the characteristics of the various health behaviors grouped under each of them. Each study subject was assigned points for each of these five factors and then cluster analysis was used to divide the subjects into four different clusters. The names of these clusters and the percentage of subjects within them were as follows: healthy group (43.47%), violent group (29.11%), pleasure-seeking group (22.55%), and rebellious group (4.87%)., Conclusions: A total of 56.53% of the study sample were grouped under unhealthy groups (violent group, pleasure-seeking group and rebellious group), which indicates that already more than half of the students had lifestyles that put their health at risk. It was suggested that health and educational organizations need to place importance on behavioral problems in children and adopt early prevention measures.