Self-Efficacy, Social Support, and Self-Care Behaviors Regarding Food Consumption and Exercise of the Elderly Club Members, Kanchanaburi Province

Abstract

The objective of this survey research was to assess knowledge, self efficacy, social support,
and self-care behaviors regarding food consumption and exercise of elderly club members in
Kanchanburi province. The sample was of 297 club members, aged 50 years and over. They
were randomly selected from the member’s list of the club. Data collection was done by using an
interview schedule developed by the researcher which has been quality checked in accordance
with the instrument development criteria. Data analysis of socio-demographic, knowledge,
perception, social support, and food consumption and exercise behaviors was done by using
percentage, arithmetic mean, and standard deviation. The relationship between sociodemographic, knowledge, perception, social support, and food consumption and exercise
behaviors was analyzed by Chi-square test
The research results showed that the percentage of females was higher than of males;
having ages between 54 to 77 years old with a mean age of 65.9 years. Most of the sample were
married (58.9%); and about half of them had finished primary school (46.8%). A Significant
relationship was found between knowledge, perceived self-efficacy, outcome expectations of
food consumption and exercise, and the self-care behaviors of the elderly. A Significant relationship
was found between knowledge, perceived self-efficacy, outcome expectations of food
consumption and exercise, and the self-care behaviors of the elderly (p-value<0.05). However,
the relationship between sex, age, marital status, education, income, social support from related
persons, and self-care behaviors of the elderly was not found (p-value>0.05).