Gender-differences in Relationships Between Perceptions of Heart Disease and Health Behaviours.

Abstract

Background: The health belief model (HBM) guided an examination of relationships between leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and fruit and vegetable consumption and the HBM constructs of susceptibility, seriousness, fear, risk reduction, control, family history and media exposure related to heart disease (HD). Methods: Data were collected using an internet survey of adults (813 men, 1635 women). LTPA and fruit and vegetable consumption were regressed onto the HBM constructs and demographic variables. Separate models were conducted for each behavior and for men and women. Findings: Susceptibility, media exposure, education and income predicted LTPA in men. Susceptibility, risk reduction, family history, media, and income predicted LTPA in women. Fruit and vegetable consumption in men was predicted by susceptibility, risk reduction, control over HD, media, age, education and income. In women, significant predictors were susceptibility, risk reduction, family history, media, having HD, age, education, and income. Discussion: The differences and similarities between the models have gender-based implications for targeted communications regarding health behaviours.