Symptoms, aging-stereotyped beliefs, and health-promoting behaviors of older women with and without osteoarthritis

The purposes of this study were to examine differences in symptoms, aging-stereotyped beliefs about management of symptoms, and health-promoting behaviors depending on a diagnosis of osteoarthritis and to investigate the associations between symptoms, aging-stereotyped beliefs, and health-promoting behaviors in 171 older Korean women. Compared to older women without osteoarthritis, those with osteoarthritis reported significantly more symptoms, a higher level of aging-stereotyped beliefs, and a lower level of health-promoting behaviors. Regardless of osteoarthritis, older women suffered from multiple symptoms, and musculoskeletal symptoms were the most frequently reported symptoms. Aging-stereotyped beliefs had a negative influence on health-promoting behaviors, whether or not older women were diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Findings of this study suggest that a broader assessment of multiple symptoms, specifically including musculoskeletal symptoms, is needed in order to enhance their management of symptoms. Health care providers should consider age stereotypes with regard to experience and management of symptoms in order to improve self-care behaviors of older people, and development of nursing intervention strategies in order to modify stereotypes and misconceptions about aging and to facilitate positive attitudes about old age is warranted.