Ownership & Activation
Your confidence and ability to manage your own health and well-being
What We Ask About
4 topics
- Self-Rating of Health
Definition
How you'd rate your own overall health, excellent, good, fair, or poor, in your own words.
Why it matters for a long, healthy life
It sounds simple, but how people rate their own health is one of the most reliable predictors of how long they'll live, even beyond what a lab test shows.
The research
A meta-analysis found a single self-rated health question reliably predicted future health and longevity across dozens of studies, even after adjusting for objective health measures.
Source: DeSalvo et al., Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2006
- Knowledge About Health
Definition
How well you understand health information, instructions, medications, and what your body is telling you.
Why it matters for a long, healthy life
Low health literacy makes it harder to manage medications correctly, understand a diagnosis, or know when to seek care, and it's linked to poorer health and fewer years of life.
The research
A 6-year population study found low health literacy was associated with poorer health and shorter life expectancy among people with chronic diseases, including heart disease and diabetes.
Source: Friis et al., Int. Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2020
- Self-Efficacy
Definition
How confident you feel in your own ability to manage your health day to day, sticking with a treatment plan, making an appointment, or changing a habit.Why it matters for a long, healthy life
Confidence isn't just a feeling. It predicts whether people actually follow through on the everyday habits that keep chronic conditions in check.
The research
A study of over 7,000 older adults found that higher self-efficacy and related life skills were associated with better health and meaningfully longer life expectancy in the years that followed.
- Self-Management
Definition
Your ability to actively manage a health condition day to day, taking medications on schedule, following a care plan, tracking symptoms.
Why it matters for a long, healthy life
Strong self-management skills are what turn a good treatment plan into an actual health outcome: the plan only helps if it's followed.
The research
A review of self-management interventions found that programs building these skills consistently improved outcomes for people with chronic disease, including reduced hospital use.
Source: Allegrante, Wells & Peterson, Annual Review of Public Health, 2019
Why We Ask
You have a role in shaping your health and the life you want to live. Understanding your health, and believing you can make a difference, helps you set goals and solve problems. Taking ownership of your health can help you feel confident in your choices and in control of your future.
Understanding Your Score
Your Care Team Support
A health coach can build skills and confidence so you feel more in control of everyday decisions. Ask your county resource specialist to connect you.
TYPES OF PROFESSIONALS WHO MAY HELP