Path analysis of cardiovascular disease preventive health behavior in postmenopausal Korean women based on the I-Change model

Abstract Postmenopausal women are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) owing to hormonal changes; however, many remain unaware of this increased risk and do not engage in CVD-preventive health behavior. This study aimed to examine factors associated with CVD-preventive health behavior among postmenopausal women living in residential area across South Korea. Data were collected through an online survey of 227 community-dwelling postmenopausal women. Associations among CVD knowledge, risk perception, attitudes, social support, intention, and CVD-preventive health behavior were examined using the Integrated Change (I-Change) model and analyzed through path analysis. The path analysis showed that CVD knowledge had a direct effect on attitudes (β = .21, p < .001), self-efficacy (β = .15, p = .021), and social support (β = .15, p = .023). Self-efficacy (β = .37, p < .001) and intention (β = .38, p < .001) had direct effects on CVD-preventive health behavior. The final model explained 48.7% of the variance in CVD-preventive health behavior. These findings suggest that self-efficacy and intention play important mediating roles in the association between CVD knowledge and CVD-preventive health behavior among postmenopausal women. Therefore, interventions aimed at reducing CVD risk should consider strategies to enhance self-efficacy and strengthen behavioral intention.