Abstract 

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate health behavior related to particulate matter (PM) in older adults and examine the factors affecting it. Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was used. Data were collected from 150 voluntary older adult participants from Songpa-gu in Seoul. The survey questions measured service perception and experience related to PM, risk perception related to PM, attitude toward risk of PM, and health behavior related to PM. Results: The average score for health behavior related to PM was 79.37, ranging from 51 to 115. There was a significant positive correlation between health behavior related to PM and risk perception related to PM (r=.58, p<.001) as well as between health behavior related to PM and attitude toward risk of PM (r=.70, p<.001). Multiple linear regression revealed that health behavior related to PM was predicted by levels of the existence of disease related to PM (β=.14, p=.019), service experience related to PM (β=.20, p=.021), risk perception related to PM (β=.20, p=.019), and attitude toward risk of PM (β=.44, p<.001). The model including these variables accounted for 47.0% of health behavior related to PM. Conclusion: Korean older adults have the low level of health behavior related to PM. The findings of this study emphasize that risk perception and attitude toward risk of PM should be evaluated, and the underlying diseases related to PM and their service experience should be considered in developing intervention to improve health behavior related to PM.

Keywords: aged, particulate matter, health behavior, perception, attitude