This study was performed to analyse the tendency of the self-care studies, to investigate the variables related to self-care, which could be applied for the data establishing the theory of self-care. To accomplish the objectives of this study, the researchers analyzed 83 studies available that contained the area of self-care, which was published in local and foreign areas between 1981 and Feb. 1997. The findings of this study are as follows : 1) Studies published in Korea were about twice more than foreign studies. According to the statistics, the number of studies in this study tended to increase year by year. Between 1991 and 1995 were most. Analysis on the subject of those studies showed, that they were most dealt with chronic diseases an adaults. 2) The theoretical definition of self-care were most referred to Orem's self-care. For the main concept of studies, self care performance was the most. 3) The correlational study was most often used design and experimental study is tended to increase. The questionnares were the most often used data collection method. There was lots of different variable measuring technique to evaluate main concepts. 4) In the results of analysis on the propositions related to the self-care performance, a client's education, social support, self-efficacy, and level of knowledge as a causal variable were found. Also, the physiological index improved and quality of life were found to be significant effective variables.