Health Behavior Profiles of Korean Baby Boomers

Abstract

This study identified profiles of health behaviors among Korean baby boomers and examined a set of individual characteristics associated with these latent profiles. We analyzed a sample of 4,047 middle-aged adults (aged 53–61) from the Korean Baby Boomer Panel Study (2014). Latent profile analysis was used to uncover distinct health behavior profiles, and multinomial regression was performed to investigate the associations between health behavior profiles and predisposing, enabling, and need factors—following from the behavioral models of health behaviors and health services use. Five profiles of health behaviors were identified: (a) low-risk and high-preventive behaviors (50%), (b) low-risk and low-preventive behaviors (35%), (c) moderate-risk and moderate-preventive behaviors (7%), (d) moderate-risk and high-preventive behaviors (6%), and (e) high-risk and low-preventive behaviors (2%). Further, individuals with more enabling and need characteristics, indicated by higher socioeconomic status and greater health concerns, were more likely to engage in healthier profiles.