Facilitators of health empowerment in women

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to test a theoretical model of the process of health empowerment in women. The proposed model examined empowerment from a theoretical perspective based upon a Rogerian framework and Parse's simultaneity paradigm. The model examined interpersonal factors (social support and professional support) and contextual factors (age, income, years of education, number of children, and number of years currently married). Women's health empowerment was indexed using Power as Knowing Participation in Change Tool and Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile Instrument. A convenience sample of 133 women between the ages of 21 and 45 years with children were obtained from the Arizona State University College of Nursing sponsored Community Health Services Clinic to test the theory. Hierarchical multiple regression technique was used to explain women's health empowerment. Results indicated a 38% of the variance in health empowerment measured as knowing participation in change was explained by a significant beta weight for social support. In addition, a significant 43% of the variance in health empowerment, measured as lifestyle behaviors, was explained by significant beta weights for education and social support.