Association of meaning in life with preventive healthcare use among Chinese adults: are there age and gender differences?

BMC Public Health

Research

Xue Li¹  Gao Yang²  Zuyao Yang³  Peter Man-hin Cheung³  Weiju Zhou³  Zijun Xu³  Eric Kam-pui Lee⁴  Dexing Zhang⁴  Samuel Yeung-shan Wong⁴  Dong Xu⁵  Yaojie Xie⁶  Baoliang Zhong⁷  Shuiyuan Xiao⁸ 

[1] Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China;JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;CUHK Thomas Jing Mindfulness Centre for Research and Training, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;School of Health Management, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China;School of Nursing, The Polytechnic University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;Wuhan Mental Health Center, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China;Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, China;

关键词: Meaning in life;    Preventive healthcare use;    Age differences;    Gender differences;    China;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-022-14699-0

 received in 2022-06-07, accepted in 2022-11-22,  发布年份 2022

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundMeaning in life could be of clinical importance in stimulating healthy and preventive behaviors. The study aimed to investigate the association between meaning in life and preventive healthcare use among Chinese adults, and to assess their age and gender differences in the association.MethodsA cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 1444 adults aged 18–64 years in February 2020 in China. Logistic regression models were employed to examine the association of meaning in life with preventive health checkups and assess their age and gender differences.ResultsThe mean score of meaning in life was 5.801 (Standard Deviation = 1.349) out of 7. Each unit increase on the level of meaning in life was associated with 12.2% higher likelihood of using preventive health checkups (any type) (adjusted odds ratio 1.122, 95% confidence interval 1.015–1.241) after adjustment for sociodemographic factors, comorbidity and other psychological health factors. Meaning in life was significantly associated with the uses of X-ray (1.125, 1.010–1.253), B-ultrasound (1.176, 1.058–1.306), and blood testing (1.152, 1.042–1.274). The associations between meaning in life and these types of preventive healthcare increased with age, but there were no gender differences in these associations.ConclusionHigher meaning in life was independently related to more preventive health checkups. Strategies to strengthen health education and interventions to improve experience of meaning in life might be an important component to increase preventive healthcare use in China.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2022