THE RELATIONSHIP OF RECIPROCITY TO SELF HEALTH-CARE IN OLDER WOMEN

According to Social Exchange Theory, reciprocity in relationships is e ssential to functioning within the social context and is an important component in well-being as people age. Because of a potential relation ship to meaning in life and hence to self health behaviors this study addressed: (1) noes reciprocity relate to self health care and (2) doe s reciprocity contribute to the explanation of self health care within a model including functional status, satisfaction with social support , and sense of meaning in life? Data were collected from 69 community dwelling women aged 65 to 99. Analysis indicated general health percep tion, support provided to others and sense of meaning in life were sig nificant predictors of self health care.