Home
HOME ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS

This Article
Services
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation

Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, Vol 51, Issue 3 S157-S170, Copyright © 1996 by The Gerontological Society of America


ARTICLES

The meaning of older adults' health appraisals: congruence with health status and determinant of mortality

EA Borawski, JM Kinney and E Kahana
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Case Western Reserve University, USA. eab@hal.epbi.cwru.edu

This study explored open-ended responses regarding attributions underlying health appraisals made by older adults, resulting in five categories (physical health, attitudinal/behavioral, externally focused, health transcendence, nonreflective). The older the respondents, the less likely they were to focus on physical aspects of their health. Health optimists were the most likely to make attitudinal/behavioral or health transcendent attributions, while poor- health realists were most likely to mention physical health aspects and least likely to make attitudinal or behavioral attributions. While poor- health realists were at the highest risk of dying within a three-year period, health optimists were significantly less likely to die than poor-health realists, in spite of sharing similar health status. Respondents who were unable to identify underlying attributions were significantly more likely to die than were those identifying any other attribution. In conclusion, health attributions provide unique insight into the complex relationship between older adults' health appraisals, health status, and mortality.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc SciHome page
N. Krause
Meaning in Life and Mortality
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci, July 1, 2009; 64B(4): 517 - 527.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Health PsycholHome page
J. C. Ruthig and A. Allery
Native American Elders' Health Congruence: The Role of Gender and Corresponding Functional Well-being, Hospital Admissions, and Social Engagement
J Health Psychol, November 1, 2008; 13(8): 1072 - 1081.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
Research on AgingHome page
S. Shooshtari, V. Menec, and R. Tate
Comparing Predictors of Positive and Negative Self-Rated Health Between Younger (25-54) and Older (55+) Canadian Adults: A Longitudinal Study of Well-Being
Research on Aging, November 1, 2007; 29(6): 512 - 554.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
J Aging HealthHome page
L. Winter, M. P. Lawton, C. A. Langston, K. Ruckdeschel, and R. Sando
Symptoms, Affects, and Self-Rated Health: Evidence for a Subjective Trajectory of Health
J Aging Health, June 1, 2007; 19(3): 453 - 469.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
J Aging HealthHome page
V. H. Menec, S. Shooshtari, and P. Lambert
Ethnic Differences in Self-Rated Health Among Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Analysis
J Aging Health, February 1, 2007; 19(1): 62 - 86.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
GerontologistHome page
C. K. McMullen and M. R. Luborsky
Self-rated health appraisal as cultural and identity process: african american elders' health and evaluative rationales.
Gerontologist, August 1, 2006; 46(4): 431 - 438.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social ScienceHome page
N. Krause
Church-based social support and mortality.
J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., May 1, 2006; 61(3): S140 - S146.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Ann Fam MedHome page
T. P. Daaleman, S. Perera, and S. A. Studenski
Religion, Spirituality, and Health Status in Geriatric Outpatients
Ann. Fam. Med, January 1, 2004; 2(1): 49 - 53.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
GerontologistHome page
N. Spiers, C. Jagger, M. Clarke, and A. Arthur
Are Gender Differences in the Relationship Between Self-Rated Health and Mortality Enduring? Results From Three Birth Cohorts in Melton Mowbray, United Kingdom
Gerontologist, June 1, 2003; 43(3): 406 - 411.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
AJPHHome page
A. Haveman-Nies, L. C.P.G.M. de Groot, and W. A. van Staveren
Relation of Dietary Quality, Physical Activity, and Smoking Habits to 10-Year Changes in Health Status in Older Europeans in the SENECA Study
Am J Public Health, February 1, 2003; 93(2): 318 - 323.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
GerontologistHome page
L. K. George
Research Design in End-of-Life Research: State of Science
Gerontologist, October 1, 2002; 42(90003): 86 - 98.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical SciencesHome page
K. E. Covinsky, E. Kahana, B. Kahana, K. Kercher, J. G. Schumacher, and A. C. Justice
History and Mobility Exam Index to Identify Community-Dwelling Elderly Persons at Risk of Falling
J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., April 1, 2001; 56(4): 253M - 259.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
Research on AgingHome page
R. Angel, G. V. Ostir, M. L. Frisco, and K. S. Markides
Comparison of a Self-Reported and a Performance-Based Assessment of Mobility in the Hispanic Established Population for Epidemiological Studies of the Elderly
Research on Aging, November 1, 2000; 22(6): 715 - 737.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
J Aging HealthHome page
J. G. Chipperfield, R. P. Perry, and V. H. Menec
Primary and Secondary Control-Enhancing Strategies: Implications for Health in Later Life
J Aging Health, November 1, 1999; 11(4): 517 - 539.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
Research on AgingHome page
C. van Doorn
A Qualitative Approach to Studying Health Optimism, Realism, and Pessimism
Research on Aging, May 1, 1999; 21(3): 440 - 457.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
Research on AgingHome page
E. L. Idler, S. V. Hudson, and H. Leventhal
The Meanings of Self-Ratings of Health: A Qualitative and Quantitative Approach
Research on Aging, May 1, 1999; 21(3): 458 - 476.
[Abstract] [PDF]




HOME ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1996 by The Gerontological Society of America.