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The Gerontologist 2009 49(S1):S72-S78; doi:10.1093/geront/gnp077
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© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org.

This article appears in the following The Gerontologist issue: Promoting Cognitive Health in Diverse Populations of Older Adults [View the issue table of contents]

Gender Differences in Views About Cognitive Health and Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Among Rural Older Adults

Bei Wu, PhD1,2, R. Turner Goins, PhD2, James N. Laditka, DA, PhD, MPA3, Valerie Ignatenko, MA2 and Eric Goedereis, MS2

2 Center on Aging and Department of Community Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown
3 Department of Public Health Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

1 Address correspondence to Bei Wu, PhD, Gerontology Program, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 214 Mclver Building, PO Box 26170. Phone: 336-256-8579; Fax: 336-334-4113. E-mail: b_wu{at}ungc.edu


  Abstract

Purpose: Research suggests that men and women often differ in knowledge and beliefs about causes and treatments of a variety of diseases. This study examines gender differences in views about cognitive health and behaviors that have been associated with its maintenance, focusing on older adults living in rural areas. Design and Methods: We conducted 6 focus groups in rural West Virginia. Participants included 37 women and 30 men, aged 55 years and older. Results: Men and women held similar views of cognitive decline, as well as largely similar views about causes of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, women were more concerned about developing AD than were men. Gender differences were also noted with respect to healthy lifestyle beliefs, including diet, leisure-time physical activity, and strategies to maintain cognitive health. Implications: Findings illustrate the importance of considering gender with respect to health beliefs, health behaviors, and health promotion, and emphasize the need to develop interventions designed for specific populations. Results highlight a critical need to translate research findings to the community.

Keywords: Knowledge, Cognitive decline, Health beliefs, Healthy lifestyle, Rural, Qualitative

Received June 25, 2008; Accepted October 10, 2008

Decision Editor: Joseph Sharkey, PhD, MPH, RD


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