Health and health behavior of persons with chronic cardiovascular disease

Health conceptions, perceived health status and health behaviors were compared for 58 adults; 29 with cardiovascular disease and 29 who were healthy. Data were collected by interview. Results indicated similarities in health conceptions and behaviors for the two groups. The cardiovascular patients perceived themselves less healthy overall but when health status was subdivided into dimensions, they perceived themselves less healthy on the clinical dimension only. They were equally healthy on the functional, adaptive, and eudaimonistic (self-actualization) dimensions. These findings underscore the necessity of viewing health within a broader context when providing health care to individuals with chronic disease.