The predictors of self-care for health among parents with small children

Abstract

Background Care of own health (for example, health bahaviours) is determined by many variables. The authors of this study focused exclusively on objective stable factors such as personality traits, emotional intelligence and health valuation. The aim of this conducted research was the assessment of relationship between self-care for health and its psychological constituents examined in the population of parents with small children. The most important issue was to explain how the psychological variables shape the self-care for health. Methods The study included 240 parents (121 women and 119 men). They filled out three questionnaires: NEO-FFI Inventory, Health Value Scale and Care-for-Health Scale. Findings The results showed that there was significant positive relationship between the general level of individual health self care (in subscales) and health valuation, extroversion, conscientiousness, openness to experience, agreeableness and emotional intelligence. The study has also indicated the negative correlation between self-care for health and neuroticism. The general self-care for health (50%) could be predicted by health valuation, some personality traits and emotional intelligence. Discussion In a chosen group of parents (regardless of gender) the strongest relationship between health self-care (both subscales: practices for health and active attitude toward own health) and health valuation was observed. Health evaluation was proved as the best predictor in each model. Ascertaining of health self-care predictors can be useful for constructing health self-care promotion programs to address the parents of small children.