Factors Affecting on Cancer Prevention Behaviors in Adult Women

Abstract

Purpose: This study was to identify relationships between the levels of perceived stress, cancer-related knowledge, attitude and prevention behaviors, and to explore factors influencing cancer prevention behaviors of adult women in Korea. Methods: This study was a descriptive research, using a cross-sectional survey. A convenience sample of 314 women aged 20 to 64 was selected. A self-administered questionnaire was used to measure perceived stress, cancer-related knowledge, cancer-related attitude, and cancer prevention behaviors. The data were analyzed with the SPSS/WIN 21.0 program. Results: Cancer-related knowledge significantly differed according to age, marital status, education level, and occupation. While correlations between cancer-related knowledge, cancer-related attitude, and cancer prevention behaviors were positive, correlations between perceived stress and cancer prevention behaviors were negative. The hierarchical regression analyses revealed significant positive relations between cancer prevention behaviors and age (β=.18, p=.003), perceived health status (β=.22, p<.001), periodic checkup (β=.21, p=.002), and cancer-related attitude (β=.25, p<.001). Perceived stress on the other hand was negatively related to cancer prevention behaviors (β=-.23, p<.001). Conclusion: Interventions targeting women, especially young adults should focus on enhancing cancer-related attitude in order to improve cancer prevention behaviors. Thus, there continues to be a need to reduce perceived stress in adult women.