Gender Differences in Cardiovascular Health-related Attitudes, Beliefs, and Behaviors: The Mediating Role of Perceived Risk in Health-promoting Lifestyles - A Health Belief Model Approach.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, including in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This study aimed to assess the attitudes, beliefs, and health-promoting behaviors (HPB) related to CVD among adults. METHODS: This exploratory survey was conducted among 707 adults recruited using a convenience sampling technique from the Northern Emirate of the United Arab Emirates. A structured questionnaire based on the Health Belief Model, containing a sociodemographic data sheet, Attitudes and Beliefs about Cardiovascular Disease Risk (ABCD) Questionnaire, and Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP-II) were used to collect the data. RESULTS: Adults demonstrated moderate levels of attitudes and beliefs, as reflected in ABCD scores (46.10 ± 3) and health-promoting lifestyle behaviors (131.54 ± 28.06). Gender differences were observed in attitudes, beliefs about CVDs, and health-promoting behaviors. Females had significantly higher knowledge scores (7.03 ± 1.7) than males (6.32 ± 2.08), t (705) = 4.46, p < 0.001, and greater health responsibility (t = 2.41, p = 0.016). Moderated mediation analysis (PROCESS Model 7) revealed that knowledge positively predicted perceived risk (β = 0.32, p < 0.001) and HPBs (β = 0.29, p < 0.001), perceived risk negatively predicted PHRs (β = -0.24, p < 0.001), and perceived benefit significantly moderated the knowledge-risk relationship (β = -0.11, p = 0.001). DISCUSSION: Knowledge, perceived risk, and perceived benefit are found to be factors influencing health-promoting behaviours. A signiifacnt geneder differences were observed in the knowledge and health responsibility among the study population. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest the need for improving the cardiovascular knowledge, attitude, and health-promoting behaviours in the study population. Policies should support comprehensive, gender-specific, and culturally appropriate cardiovascular health promotion interventions to effectively address these gaps.