Table 2.
Definitions of the studied variables.
| Variables | Definition |
|---|---|
| Dependent Variable Self-reported Health Status |
self-reported health status compared to that of the previous year: excellent, good, fair, poor, or very poor (from 1 to 5) |
| Health Behavior Indicator | |
| Weight Control | if the individual uses weight control to control for hypertension, diabetes, or hyperlipidemia control; yes = 1, else = 0 |
| Smoke or Drink Reduction | if the individual reduces smoke or drink to control for hypertension, diabetes, or hyperlipidemia control; yes = 1, else = 0 |
| Exercise | if the individual uses regular exercise to control for hypertension, diabetes, or hyperlipidemia control; yes = 1, else = 0 |
| Healthy Diet | if the individual uses healthy diet to control for hypertension, diabetes, or hyperlipidemia control; yes = 1, else = 0 |
| Relaxation | if the individual uses relaxation to control for hypertension, diabetes, or hyperlipidemia control; yes = 1, else = 0 |
| Meditation | if the individual use meditation to control for hypertension, diabetes, or hyperlipidemia control; yes = 1, else = 0 |
| Other Control | if the individual uses other methods to control for hypertension, diabetes, or hyperlipidemia control; yes = 1, else = 0 |
| Health Behavior Latent Class | |
| Class 1: all-controlled | if the individual belongs to this class; yes = 1, else = 0 (the default variable) |
| Class 2: exercise and relaxation | if the individual belongs to this class; yes = 1, else = 0 |
| Class 3: healthy diet | if the individual belongs to this class; yes = 1, else = 0 |
| Class 4: healthy diet and reduced smoking or drinking | if the individual belongs to this class; yes = 1, else = 0 |
| Class 5: least-controlled | if the individual belongs to this class; yes = 1, else = 0 |
| Personal Characteristics Sex |
if the individual’s gender is male; yes = 1, else = 0 |
| Married | if the individual’s marital status; married = 1, else = 0 |
| HHnumber | number of children live with |
| Ethnicity | |
| Taiwanese | if the individual is Taiwanese; yes = 1, else = 0 |
| Hakka | if the individual is Hakka; yes = 1, else = 0 |
| Mainlander | if the individual is mainlander; yes = 1, else = 0 |
| Other | if the individual is other ethnicity; yes = 1, else = 0 (the default variable) |
| Age Category | |
| Age 40–49 | if the individual’s age group is 40–49; yes = 1, else = 0 (the default variable) |
| Age 50–59 | if the individual’s age group is 50–59; yes = 1, else = 0 |
| Age 60–69 | if the individual’s age group is 60–69; yes = 1, else = 0 |
| Age 70–79 | if the individual’s age group is 70–79; yes = 1, else = 0 |
| Age 80 or above | if the individual’s age group is 80 or above; yes = 1, else = 0 |
| Education Level | |
| Junior high school or below | if the individual’s education level is illiteracy, elementary school, or junior high school; yes = 1, else = 0 (the default variable) |
| Senior high school | if the individual’s education level is senior high school; yes = 1, else = 0 |
| College or above | if the individual’s education level is college or above; yes = 1, else = 0 |
| Regional Variables | |
| Northern area | if the individual is located in Taipei County, Ilan County, Taoyuan County, Hsinchu County, Miaoli County, Taipei City; yes = 1, else = 0 |
| Central area | if the individual is located in Taichung County, Changwa County, Nantou County, Yunlin County, Taichung City; yes = 1, else = 0 |
| Southern area | if the individual is located in Chiayi County, Tainan County, Kaohsiung County, Pingtung County, Kaohsiung City, Chiayi City, Tainan City; yes = 1, else = 0 |
| Eastern area | if the individual is located in Taitung County, Hualien County, Penghu County; yes = 1, else = 0 (the default variable) |
| Monthly Income Level | |
| Income 1 | if the individual’s monthly income level is below NT$40,000; yes = 1, else = 0 (the default variable) |
| Income 2 | if the individual’s monthly income level is between NT$40,000 and NT$79,999; yes = 1, else = 0 |
| Income 3 | if the individual’s monthly income level is NT$80,000 or above; yes = 1, else = 0 |
| Diseases | |
| Chronic Disease | if the individual has chronic diseases such as cancer, heart, stroke, kidney, lung, or liver diseases; yes = 1, else = 0 |
| Other Chronic Disease | if the individual has gout, arthritis, or osteoporosis; yes = 1, else = 0 |
| Mental | if the individual has mental disease; yes = 1, else = 0 |
| Drug Treatment | |
| Hypertension drug | if the individual has hypertension drug treatment; yes = 1, else = 0 |
| Diabetes drug | if the individual has diabetes drug treatment; yes = 1, else = 0 |
| Hyperlipidemia drug | if the individual has hyperlipidemia drug treatment; yes = 1, else = 0 |