Health perceptions and health-promoting behaviors among elderly Catholic nuns

This article reports on a descriptive study of perceptions of health and health promoting behaviors among diverse elders. A tool combining open-ended questions, Wallston's Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) tool, and Fender's Health Promoting lifestyle Profile (HPLP) was used to obtain data on definition of health, health locus of control, and health behaviors, respectively, among elderly retired nuns. The 50 respondents scored highest on internal locus of control on the MHLC, The highest HPLP scores related to nutrition and self-actualization. Exercise and nutrition-related behaviors were the most frequently reported health practices. Open-ended responses revealed a multidimensional understanding of health. This research contributes to an understanding of health perceptions and practices among this little-studied population.