Factors Influencing Health-Promoting Behaviors Among Primigravidas of Advanced Maternal Age

Purpose: To examine the level of health-promoting behaviors among primigravidas of advanced maternal age based on Pender’s Health Promotion Model and to identify the factors influencing these behaviors.Methods: This study included 154 primigravidas of advanced maternal age. Data were collected online using a structured self-report questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, 1-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients, and hierarchical regression analysis.Results: Spousal support, self-efficacy, and pregnancy risk symptom perception were positively correlated with health-promoting behaviors, while pregnancy stress was negatively correlated. In the first model, pregnancy complications, pregnancy stress, self-efficacy, and spousal support were significant factors that explained healthpromoting behaviors. In the second model, pregnancy risk symptom perception was identified as a significant factor. The factors influencing health-promoting behaviors were spousal support (β=0.43, p<0.001), self-efficacy (β=0.33, p<0.001), pregnancy stress (β=–0.14, p=0.009), and pregnancy risk symptom perception (β=0.13, p=0.028). The final model explained 61.9% of the variance in health-promoting behaviors among primigravidas of advanced maternal age (F=50.78, p<0.001).Conclusion: The findings suggest that enhancing health-promoting behaviors among primigravidas of advanced maternal age may be achieved by fostering positive interactions with their spouses to strengthen spousal support and boost self-efficacy. Additionally, providing accurate and structured information may help reduce pregnancyrelated stress and improve awareness of pregnancy risk symptoms.