Clustering women's health behaviors

This study attempts to characterize health lifestyles by subgrouping women with similar behavior patterns. Data on background, health behaviors, and perceptions were collected via phone interview from 1.075 Israeli women aged 50 to 74. From a cluster analysis conducted on health behaviors, three clusters emerged: a "health promoting" cluster (44.1%). women adhering to recommended behaviors; an "inactive" cluster (40.3%), women engaging in neither health-promoting nor compromising behaviors; and an "ambivalent" cluster (15.4%), women engaging somewhat in both health-promoting and compromising behaviors. Clustering was cross-tabulated by demographic and perceptual variables, further validating the subgrouping. The cluster solution was also validated by predicting another health behavior (mammography screening) for which there was an external validating source. Findings are discussed in comparison to published cluster solutions, culminating in suggestions for intervention alternatives. The concept of lifestyle was deemed appropriate to summarize the clustering of these behavioral, perceptual, and structural variables.