Health and health behaviors among elderly Hispanic women.

The purpose of this study was to describe and analyze the relationship between health and health behaviors among elderly Hispanic women who were lifetime U.S. residents. The number of elderly Hispanics is expected to grow faster than any other segment of the population within the United States. A random sample of 132 elderly Hispanic women enrolled in a health maintenance organization participated in this cross-sectional survey of health prevention, promotion, and protection behaviors and dimensions of health as measured by the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36. Results indicated that more than half of this group did not exercise regularly, one fourth did not eat regularly scheduled meals, and many had not participated in health screening. Among the women in this study, those whose lifestyles incorporated the more frequent practice of positive health behaviors also had better scores on 6 of the 8 specific health dimensions measured.