以往研究發現一個人對其健康狀態的自我評估結果，與是否尋求健康照護之決定，兩者之間具有關聯性。自我照護（self care）被視為在各種健康照護中，最基本及首要的照護行為。然而，很少有研究探討健康狀態的自我評估結果，對自我照護行為的影響。本研究的目的在探討老年人所採取自我照護的行為模式種類，以及其健康狀態的自我評估結果，對其所採取自我照護行為模式的影響。 本研究之資料取自美國， “The National Survey of Self-Care and Aging: Baseline, 1990-1991”。樣本為3,485位接受美國醫療照護保險（Medicare），非住在醫療機構的老人。在研究架構中，自變項（independent variable）為健康狀態的自我評估結果。自我照護行為模式（應變項，dependent variable）則區分為：1）日常作息的改變；2）居住環境的改變；3）使用特殊裝置；4）使用成藥；5）什麼都不做。控制變項（controlling variable）則為人口統計變項、社經地位、身體功能的衰退情形。在統計分析方面，則使用逐步複迴歸及羅吉諦斯迴歸（logistic regression）來檢定老年人健康狀態的自我評估結果，對其採取自我照護行為模式的影響。 研究結果發現絕大多數的老年人會採取種種自我照護的措施，來應對因慢性病所帶來的疼痛與日常活動限制；只有8.2 %的樣本採取”什麼都不做”的措施。健康狀態的自我評估和“日常作息的改變”之自我照護行為模式，兩者之間具有顯著的正相關性。而自評健康狀態較差的老年人，比較可能使用成藥。

　　　　　A growing body of studies shows that self-perceptions of health status are linked to the determination of help-seeking for health care. For help-seeking regarding health care self-care has been portrayed as the basic or primary level of health care. There is an affirmation that self-care contributes to the prevention of chronic illness and the maintenance of functional health. However, little is known about the impacts of self-perceptions of health status on self-care behavior. The purposes of the present study were to identify the range of self?care coping strategies adopted by an elderly population to deal with functional status limitations, and to explore the influences of self-perceptions of health status on various self-care behaviors. The data were drawn from the National Survey of Self-Care and Aging: Baseline, 1990-1991. The survey included a national probability sample of 3,485 noninstitutionalized Medicare beneficiaries. A conceptual model had been formulated to explore the relation between self-perceptions of health status and self-care behaviors (i.e., changes in behavior, changes in environment, use of special devices, use of over the counter medications and doing nothing), controlling demographic characteristics, socioeconomic resources, and decrements in functional status. Stepwise multiple regression and logistic regression analyses were preformed to examine the influences of self-perceptions of health status on self-care coping strategies. The findings show that a large proportion of respondents does engage in some types of self-care activities to deal with their everyday chronic conditions. Only a small proportion of the elderly opts for the self-care of “doing nothing” (8.2%). Self-perceptions of health status were positively related to changes-in-behavior self-care. And respondents who perceived poor health status were more likely to use non-prescribed medications, compared with those who felt their health was good. These findings contribute to the understanding of the benefits of positive health perceptions by showing that they are connected to some self-care behaviors that are linked to health.