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. [email protected]

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:

				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]

				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]

				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]

				K. F. Ferraro and J. A. Kelley-Moore Self-Rated Health and Mortality Among Black and White Adults: Examining the Dynamic Evaluation Thesis J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., July 1, 2001; 56(4): S195 - 205. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				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]