Date Presented 04/05/2025
Research on 250 Korean adults in the community shows that perceived susceptibility and barriers negatively affect lifestyle, highlighting the need for interventions to promote dementia-preventive lifestyles and advance OT practice.
Primary Author and Speaker: Hyunseo An
Additional Authors and Speakers: Inhye Kim, Sohyeon Yun, Jiwon Shin, Hyun Yang, Hae Yean Park
PURPOSE: This research is essential as dementia is a growing public health concern. Understanding factors influencing preventive lifestyle changes is crucial for developing effective interventions in occupational therapy to promote healthier, dementia-preventive lifestyles.
DESIGN: This research was conducted using a cross-sectional survey design. Participants were recruited through an online panel across South Korea, targeting adults aged 50 and above living in the community.
METHOD: A total of 250 participants completed a survey assessing health beliefs regarding lifestyle changes for dementia prevention and their multifaceted lifestyles. Health beliefs were measured using the Motivation to Change Lifestyle and Health Behaviors for Dementia Risk Reduction (MCLHB-DRR) scale, which includes seven subscales based on Health Belief Model (HBM). Multifaceted lifestyles were assessed using the Yonsei Lifestyle Profile-BREF (YLP-BREF), focusing on physical activity, activity participation, and nutrition. Structural equation modeling analyzed the relationship between these health beliefs and lifestyle changes.
RESULTS: The structural equation model showed an acceptable fit to the data. Results indicated that perceived susceptibility (β = −.330, p < .05) and perceived barriers (β = −.283, p < .05) negatively affected lifestyles. Health beliefs about dementia prevention accounted for 31.3% of the variance in lifestyle changes.
CONCLUSION: Addressing perceived susceptibility and barriers is crucial for promoting dementia-preventive lifestyles among Korean middle-aged and older adults. Community healthcare professionals, including occupational therapists, should develop targeted interventions to enhance health-promoting behaviors.
IMPACT STATEMENT: This study highlights the importance of targeting health beliefs to promote dementia-preventive lifestyles, helping reduce dementia risk and improve the well-being of middle-aged and older adults.
References
Kim, S., Sargent-Cox, K., Cherbuin, N., & Anstey, K. J. (2014). Development of the motivation to change lifestyle and health behaviours for dementia risk reduction scale. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders Extra, 4(2), 172–183. https://doi.org/10.1159/000362228
Park, K. H., Nam, S., Hong, I., & Park, J. H. (2023). An investigation of the psychometric properties of lifestyle profile-BREF. Physical and Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics, 41(3), 347–361. https://doi.org/10.1080/02703181.2022.2138679
Li, H., Zhang, J., Wang, L., Yang, T., & Yang, Y. (2022). A health promoting-lifestyle prediction model for dementia prevention among Chinese adults: based on the health belief model. BMC Public Health, 22(1), 2450. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14828-9
