Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]
Author:
 		Keyword(s):
Year:  Vol:  Page: 

This Article
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Cited by other online articles
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Roberts, G.
Right arrow Articles citing this Article
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Roberts, G.

Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, Vol 54, Issue 1 S24-S30, Copyright © 1999 by The Gerontological Society of America

ARTICLES

Age effects and health appraisal: a meta-analysis

G Roberts
University of Texas at Austin, USA. [email protected]

OBJECTIVE: The purpose was to clarify the effects of methodological variables in the research on age differences in self-rated health and specifically the effects of: (a) the item type used to solicit the appraisal, (b) the approach to sampling, and (c) the criteria for assembling the age groups for study. METHODS: Studies differing on these dimensions were compared using meta-analytic techniques. Seventeen usable samples were grouped according to the age comparisons-- seven compared "young" and "old" samples while ten compared "young-old" and "old-old" groups. RESULTS: The results failed to support the frequently reported health optimism of old-old samples when compared with young-old. Further, the findings suggest that the item type used in eliciting the rating of health may be instrumental in the respondent's appraisal process. For instance, use of the age- comparative item tends to favor "old" groups when compared to young, whereas the global health item has an effect in the other direction. Effect size was also related to a study's sampling procedure and to the method used in assembling groups (i.e., age ranges used to represent young and old). DISCUSSION: Practical implications and areas of needed research are discussed.


This article has been cited by other articles: (Search Google Scholar for Other Citing Articles)


Home page
 Am J Public HealthHome page
R. M. Bures
Childhood Residential Stability and Health at Midlife
Am J Public Health, July 1, 2003; 93(7): 1144 - 1148.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med SciHome page
M. Jylha, J. M. Guralnik, J. Balfour, and L. P. Fried
Walking Difficulty, Walking Speed, and Age as Predictors of Self-Rated Health: The Women's Health and Aging Study
J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., October 1, 2001; 56(10): M609 - 617.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc SciHome page
P. Svedberg, P. Lichtenstein, and N. L. Pedersen
Age and Sex Differences in Genetic and Environmental Factors for Self-Rated Health: A Twin Study
J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., May 1, 2001; 56(3): S171 - S178.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
All GSA journals The Gerontologist
Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
Copyright © 1999 by The Gerontological Society of America.