Health behaviors of adults living in Turkey during the covid-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objective: It is thought that the restrictions that significantly disrupt the routine life of individuals during the Covid-19 pandemic process pose a potential threat to their health behaviors. This research was conducted to identify adults’ health behaviors during the process of the Covid-19 pandemic. Method: The descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 508 adults residing in Turkey, who were not diagnosed with Covid-19, between October and December 2020. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form and the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II. Results: The mean of adults’ Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II scores was found as 123.96±23.75 points, and adults obtained the lowest and highest mean scores successively from the Physical Activity Sub-scale and the Spiritual Growth Sub-scale of the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II. Besides, it was identified that, first, adults with incomes below expenses obtained a lower mean Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II score than those with incomes equaling expenses and those with incomes above expenses, second, adults residing in the district obtained a lower mean Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II score than those residing in the province center, and third, adults perceiving their health as good obtained a lower mean Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II score than those perceiving their health as satisfactory were statistically significant. Conclusion: It was discerned that adults performed health behaviors inadequately during the process of the Covid-19 pandemic, and income level, place of residence, and health perception affected adults’ health behaviors.