Alternative View of Health Behavior: The Experience of Older Korean Women

Abstract

In this study we explored the perspectives of older Korean women on the principles and meanings of health behavior. Participants were 12 women age 65 and older, with no serious illnesses requiring hospitalization, who were living independently. We used an interpretative phenomenological approach for data collection and analysis. Seven themes emerged: (a) eating well in accordance with one’s physical requirements; (b) maintaining one’s inherited health; (c) controlling one’s illness properly; (d) maintaining good relationships with close relatives and friends; (e) being modest and free from greed; (f) staying in harmony with nature; and (g) regaining energy and vitality. These experiences were mainly based on the traditional Korean concept of health promotion, “food is medicine,” rather than on Western concepts of health promotion. In providing optimal geriatric nursing care for Korean older women, the results will be significant because they are based on older women’s traditional Korean perspectives of health promotion rather than existing perspectives of Western medicine.