Structural Relationship Between Multidimensional Experience Avoidance and Health Promotion Behaviors of Physically Disabled People

The purpose of this study is to examine the structural relationship between multidimensional experience avoidance and health promotion behaviors of physically handicapped people. In order to achieve the purpose of this study, data were collected from 170 persons with physical disabilities living in five regions of Seoul, Gyeonggi, Chungcheong, Jeolla, and Gyeongsang. For the collected data, frequency analysis, exploratory factor analysis, reliability analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation model analysis were performed using SPSS 22.0 and AMOS 22.0 programs. the results are as follow. First, pain tolerance, a sub-factor of experience avoidance, was found to have a positive (+) effect on interpersonal relationships and physical activity, which are sub-factors of health promoting behavior. Second, pain aversion, a sub-factor of experience avoidance, was found to have a negative (-) effect on interpersonal relationships and physical activity, which are sub-factors of health promotion behavior. Third, suppression and denial, which are sub-factors of experience avoidance, were found to have a positive (+) effect on health management and physical activity, which are sub-factors of health promotion behavior. Fourth, distraction and inhibition, which are sub-factors of experience avoidance, were found to have a positive (+) effect on health management, interpersonal relationships, and physical activity, which are sub-factors of health promotion behavior. Fifth, delayed behavior, a sub-factor of experience avoidance, was found to have a negative (-) effect on physical activity, a sub-factor of health promoting behavior. Sixth, it was found that avoidance behavior, a sub-factor of experience avoidance, did not affect all sub-factors of health promotion behavior.