Table 3 Factor loadings and factor correlation from the simultaneous confirmatory factor analysis on the full sample

Self-Care Maintenance Scale

Health-promoting behaviors

 How often or routinely do you…

  1. Make sure to get enough sleep?

  3. Do physical activity (e.g., take a brisk walk, use the stairs)?

  4. Eat a balanced and varied diet?

  7. Do something to relieve stress (e.g., meditation, yoga, music)?

Illness-related behaviors

 2. Try to avoid getting sick (e.g., flu shot, wash your hands)?

 5. See your healthcare provider for routine health care (e.g., routine check-ups, dentist, gynecologist)?

 6. If/when prescribed, take prescribed medicines without missing a dose?

Self-Care Monitoring Scale

 How often or routinely do you…

  9. Monitor your health status?

  10. If/when prescribed, monitor for medicine side-effects?

  11. Pay attention to changes in how you feel?

  12. Monitor whether you tire more than usual doing normal activities?

  13. Monitor for symptoms?

Self-Care Management Scale

Autonomous behaviors

 When you have symptoms, how likely are you to…

  15. Change what you eat or drink to make the symptom decrease or go away?

  16. Change your activity level (e.g., slow down, rest)?

  17. Take a medicine to make the symptom decrease or go away?

  20. Did the things you did make you feel better?

Consulting behaviors

 18. Tell your healthcare provider about the symptom at the next office visit?

 19. Call your healthcare provider for guidance?