Health behaviours and life satisfaction of health spa patients

Abstract

Background: Determining the relationship between health behaviors and life satisfaction in patients who use health spas as an accurate measure of well-being (subjective well-being reflecting health condition) can be the basis for implementing preventive activities, setting trends for behavior modification, and monitoring changes in health-promoting practices. Aim of the study: To determine an empirical verification of the relationship between health behaviors and life satisfaction. Material and methods: The study included 123 women and men aged 32–80 years – all of whom were health spa patients. The Health Behavior Inventory (HBI) by Juczyński, and the Polish adaptation of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) by Diener, Emmons, Larsen, and Griffin were used to measure health behavior and life satisfaction, respectively. Results: There was a significant positive correlation between health behavior indicators and the level of life satisfaction in patients, as well as an increase in the practice of health behaviors with age. Gender appears to differentiate the frequency of the performance of health behaviors in the subjects. A higher overall rate of health behaviors was observed in females compared with males. For instance, females attached greater importance to healthy eating habits compared with males. However, a higher level of life satisfaction is associated with more intensified preventive behaviors in males. Conclusions: A health education program should take into account both the age and gender of health spa patients. It should also aim to not only develop health awareness, but also to include psychological factors, such as a sense of life satisfaction, which can strengthen patients’ beliefs in the importance of health-promoting activities.