BMC Psychol. 2025 Dec 5;13(1):1335. doi: 10.1186/s40359-025-03693-x.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Illness perceptions, which are representations of illness or health threats formed in response to situational stimuli, are considered one of the most significant predictors of self-care behaviors. However, there is limited evidence regarding the relationships between illness perceptions and self-care behaviors among individuals with heart failure (HF).
OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationships between illness perceptions and self-care behaviors among Chinese people with HF.
METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of baseline data from an intervention program that has received ethical approval and obtained informed consent from all participants. People with HF were recruited from a tertiary hospital in China between February and May 2023. All the participants were assessed for illness perceptions, self-care behaviors, and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Hierarchical linear regression analyses were employed to examine the effect of illness perceptions on self-care behaviors.
RESULTS: A total of 164 people with HF were included in the study. Illness perceptions (β = -0.215, p = 0.002), educational level (β = 0.186, p = 0.010), employment status (β = 0.188, p = 0.033), and time since diagnosis (β = 0.367, p < 0.001) were identified as significant predictors of self-care maintenance. We also found that illness perceptions (β = -0.208, p = 0.002), educational level (β = 0.187, p = 0.009), employment status (β = 0.223, p = 0.002), and time since diagnosis (β = 0.375, p < 0.001) significantly affected symptom perception. Additionally, illness perceptions (β = -0.399, p < 0.001), educational level (β = 0.213, p = 0.003), and time since diagnosis (β = 0.142, p = 0.039) predicted self-care management.
CONCLUSIONS: Illness perceptions are key factors for HF self-care behaviors. Interventions aimed at enhancing illness perceptions may lead to better self-care behaviors.
PMID:41351177 | DOI:10.1186/s40359-025-03693-x