The relationship of reciprocity to self health care in older women.

According to Social Exchange Theory, reciprocity in relationships is essential to functioning within the social context and is an important component in well-being as people age. Because of a potential relationship to meaning in life and hence to self health behaviors this study addressed: (1) Does reciprocity relate to self health care and (2) does reciprocity contribute to the explanation of self health care within a model including functional status, satisfaction with social support, and sense of meaning in life? Data were collected from 69 community dwelling women aged 65 to 99. Analysis indicated general health perception, support provided to others and sense of meaning in life were significant predictors of self health care.