作者 ｜
蔡秀美(中正大學成人及繼續教育研究所
摘要 ｜
本研究的主旨在探討兩性身心保健的差異，以嘉義縣、市453位成人民眾作為分析對象，分下列四個層面來探討:(1)健康維護行為方面，資料顯示男性在抽菸、飲酒和吃檳榔的頻率頗高，對健康有不利的影響，但運動的頻率則是男性比女性高。另外，女性對身材傾向有負面的評價。(2)心理困擾方面，女性有較高的沮喪症狀。(3)健康意識和預防醫療方面，男性的自覺健康狀況較女性佳，預防性健康檢查的頻率則兩性無差異。(4)患病情形及正式醫療利用方面，資料顯示兩性在自述患病數、求診及買藥次數上均無顯著差異。這些保健態度與行為和社會文化所塑造的性別角色似乎有很大的關聯，吾人應利用教育或政策制定等方法致力於消弭這些差異，以積極促進兩性在健康上的福祉。
關鍵字 ｜
健康維護行為;心理困擾;健康意識與醫療照護利用;性別差異
Title ｜
GENDER DIFFERENCES IN HEALTH BEHAVIOR, MENTAL HEALTH, HEALTH CONSCIOUSNESS, AND HEALTH CARE UTILIZATION
Author ｜
Tsai Hsiu-mei(Institute of Adult and Continuing Education, National Chung-Cheng University)
Abstract ｜
The purpose of this study is to explore if there is gender differences in health attitude and behavior. With 453 adults sampled from Chiayi areas as units of analysis, results of the study include four categories : (1) Health maintenance behavior, the data show that males are more likely to smoke, consume alcohol, and bite beetle nuts, which are disadvantageous to their health; while males tend to exercise more often than females. Besides, females tend to have negative body-image.(2) Psychological distress, women are more likely to be depressed. (3) Health consciousness and preventive medicine, men report their health status better than women do, but there are no differences between men and women in frequency of taking preventive checkup. (4) Health care utilization, no differences are found in reported number of diseases, frequencies of physician visits and medicine purchase. These health attitudes and behaviors appear to be associated with sex-role shaped by society and culture. The gender differences in health attitudes and behaviors can be reduced by means of education and social policy, so that health status of both sex can be promoted.
Keywords ｜
health maintenance behavior, psychological distress; health consciousness; health care utilization; gender differences.