Women Care about Their Health but Don't Feel Successful at Meeting Their Goals

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The vast majority of women age 18-64 view themselves as being family oriented, but most also see themselves as self-reliant and resourceful, according to a Harris Interactive study for Health magazine. While 79% of women say "family oriented" describes them very well (rate it 8-10 on a 10-pt. scale), and 72% identify themselves as strongly with the description "someone who takes care of others," only four in 10 see themselves as "someone who lives for others."

Two thirds (66%) see themselves as self-reliant and six in 10(63%) as resourceful. Fewer women feel they are "in control of their life" (44%), ambitious (44%), or energetic (36%). Just over a quarter (27%) describe themselves as career oriented.

Women age 25-34 have the lowest energy levels of all women 18-64; 28% of women age 25-34 agree strongly with a description of themselves as energetic, versus 43% of 18-24-year- olds and 47% of 55-64-year-olds. Women age 55-64 (75%) are more likely than women age 18-24 (57%) to see themselves as self-reliant.

Married women (64%) are more likely than divorced (39%) or single women (42%) to describe themselves as very happy. Women in excellent health are the most likely of all groups to describe themselves as very happy; 75% say so, versus 56% of women overall.

While good health is a priority for all women, most women reach a turning point in their lives, at which they become more conscious of their own health and of how they feel on a daily basis. The average age for this change in awareness is 35.5 years. Factors that trigger such a turning point include health problems they have personally experienced (28%), having a child or being with …