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[Relationship between health behavior and social support for the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases].

PURPOSE
The present study aimed to clarify the relationship between health behavior and social support for the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases in the Tohoku region of Japan.


METHODS
The subjects were 2,457 individuals aged > 40 years in 2005 who attended for physical checkup in "Town A" in Miyagi prefecture in the Tohoku region ofJapan. Data from 1,225 individuals who answered appropriately were analyzed. Questionnaire items comprised measures of health behavior and social support. Additionally, demographic characteristics, health status, medical history, family history of lifestyle-related diseases, and lifestyles of cohabiting family members were covered. Health behavior items included the Alameda seven health practices, while social support items included mental status, dietary habits, exercise, and available health support. Comparisons of health behavior scores with individual variables were analyzed using a t-test and one-way analysis of variance. Pearson's correlation coefficient and step-wise multiple regression by gender and age (40-64 years; 65 years or older) was employed for analysis of the factors concerning health behavior.


RESULTS
Mental support was found to be related to health behavior in men aged 40-64 years after adjustment for diseases; however, no relationship between social support and health behavior was observed for men aged 65 years or older. Regardless of the diseases adjusted for, exercise support was related to health behavior in women aged 65 years or older. Among women aged 40-64 years, including those with diseases, support for dietary habits had a negative effect on health behavior while health information support had a positive effect.


CONCLUSION
Mental support, exercise support, and health information support were found to have positive effects on health behavior, regardless of sex, age, and health status. The present findings indicate the importance of mental and exercise support for the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases, particularly in men aged 40-64 years, and in women aged 65 years or older.