Health behavior refers to the actions individuals undertake to preserve, enhance, or restore their health, guided by a fundamental aspiration for safety and well-being. These actions may be perceived by individuals as beneficial for their health, regardless of their objective health status.

The manifestation of health behavior occurs within the life journey of individuals, influenced by their specific health circumstances and social contexts. Thus, individual perceptions and attitudes toward health, as well as personal beliefs and values, significantly shape health behavior. Moreover, personal attributes such as age, gender, knowledge, economic status, past experiences, religious beliefs, and interpersonal relationships play a role in influencing health behavior. Furthermore, social factors such as available resources, support networks, communication skills of relevant parties, and prevailing social norms also exert considerable influence on health behavior.

Common health behaviors include activities such as regular exercise and smoking cessation, which individuals habitually engage in as part of their daily routines to maintain, improve, or restore their health. Nursing professionals uphold individuals’ perspectives on health, assess their health behaviors, and provide support to help them attain a higher level of health and well-being, facilitating better QOL.

• Araga, N., & Gokan, Y. (Eds.). (2004). Community nursing science.jp. Intermedical.
• Miyasaka, T. (2006). Latest health science lectures special volume 1: Health education theory. Medical Friend Publishing.
• Munakata, T. (1996). Health and disease from the perspective of the latest behavioral science. Medical Friend Publishing.