The value of health as a motivating factor for health-promoting activities
Keywords:
health value, motivation, lifestyleAbstract
Introduction. Health as the primary value ranked highly in a hierarchy of values of individuals or social groups is a signifi cant decision element which is the basis for making choice of behaviours related with human lifestyle. The references report that each of the recognized and valued goods has a defi nite role in a decision process of a person, which is mainly related with meta-decision function, under the frames of which the value becomes a reference point, particularly in confl icting situations, being the crucial factor in realization of a given activity. The appreciated good can also stimulate for the realisation of defi nite behaviours, give a meaning to activities, direct and formulate the scope of activities. It is thus the element of motivation.
Aim. The aim of the present research is to identify the respondents’ opinion on the role of health played in their lives. Also some problems related with their everyday lifestyle, illustrating the health-lifestyle relationship, were presented. This relationship was analysed in the context of positive or adverse infl uence on health status of individuals.
Materials and methods. The research comprised a group of 118 families. The empirical material were the replies to the questions included in a questionnaire and concerned the discussed problems. The three independent variables were considered: place of residence (town, village), material situation assessment (positive, negative) and the education level (primary, higher).
Results. The statistical analysis proved an extremely important value of health as a decision factor. More than 90% of the respondents state that perceiving health in the context of recognized good has a decisive infl uence on the selection and character of behaviours tending to improve or maintain optimal health condition. The respondents’ life style refl ecting the relationship between the values and the taken up activities, has too little features with a positive effect on health and it is diffi cult to classify it to healthpromotion category.
References
1. Marczuk S. Badanie wartości w socjologii. Teoria i empiria. Rzeszów: Wydawnictwo Wyższej Szkoły Pedagogicznej w Rzeszowie; 1988.
2. Wrońska I, Mariański J. Wartości życiowe młodzieży na przykładzie szkół pielęgniarskich. Lublin: Akademia Medyczna i NeuroCentrum Lublin; 1999.
3. Przetacznik-Gierowska M, Włodarski Z. Psychologia wychowawcza. Warszawa: PWN; 1994.
4. Jedynak S. Słownik etyczny. Lublin: Wydawnictwo UMCS; 1990.
5. Mariański J, Zdaniewicz W. Wartości religijne i moralne młodych Polaków. Warszawa; 1991.
6. Ostrowska K. W poszukiwaniu wartości. Gdańsk; 1994.
7. Jarosz DA. Stymulacja motywacją człowieka w zachowaniu zdrowia psychicznego. Zdr Publ. 2002;112(Suppl 1): S81-7.
8. Kozielecki J. Człowiek wielowymiarowy. Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Żak; 1996.
9. Mianowana V. Motywacja do podejmowania wysiłków zdrowotnych współwyznacznikiem funkcji edukacyjnej pielęgniarki. Zdr Publ. 2003; 113(1/2):126-30.
10. Talarczyk M. Znaczenie wartości. Wychowawca. Miesięcznik nauczycieli i wychowawców katolickich. 2004;5(137).
11. Ingarden R. Książeczka o człowieku. Kraków; 1975.
12. Kulik T. Współczesna koncepcja zdrowia. In: Czaplińki Z, Muzyka W, editors. Styl życia a zdrowie. Materiały z Ogólnopolskiej Konferencji Naukowej „Styl życia a zdrowie” Polskie Towarzystwo Pedagogiczne Oddział w Olsztynie. Olsztyn; 1995.
13. Tuszyńska-Bogucka V. Troska o zdrowie w hierarchii wartości uczniów gimnazjum. Ann UMCS. Sectio D. VOL. LX, Suppl. XVI, 581. Lublin, 2005.
