Dispositional optimism and health behavior of patients with hypertensive disease

Introduction. In the treatment of hypertension (HA) apart from pharmacological treatment an essential place takes healthy lifestyle. Also
drew attention to the importance of the personal impact of resources on the consistent implementation of therapeutic recommendations,
among which worth considering is the level of dispositional optimism, the essence of which is the tendency to a positive perception of the
world and one’s own future.
Aim of the study. The aim of the study was to determine the existence of the relationship between the level of dispositional optimism and
selected health behaviors in patients with HA.
Material and methods. The study was attended by 100 people suffering from HA. The study authors used a questionnaire investigating
health behaviors and the Life Orientation Test (LOT–R) by Scheier, Carver, Bridges in adaptation of Poprawa and Juczynski examining level
of dispositional optimism.
Results. The overall rate of dispositional optimism in the study group was16.57. Men had significantly higher level of dispositional optimism
than women. Significantly higher level of dispositional optimism was characteristic to older people and people with higher education. With
increasing frequency of physical activity, eating fruit, vegetables and fish, it is noted a significant increase in the level of dispositional optimism.
Significantly lower level of dispositional optimism characterized abusers of salt in the diet, consuming alcohol or smoking cigarettes.

Conclusions. The results of the study indicate the need for greater involvement of physicians, nurses, nutritionists and other professionals in
the education of patients with HA on the impact of healthy lifestyle on health and the effectiveness of antihypertensive therapy. Special
attention should be paid to patient’s personal resources, including dispositional optimism.
Nursing Topics 2013; 21 (1): 21–28