How Age Affects Health Perception in Older Adults
Author Information
Author(s): Brian Downer, Jose Cabrero Castro, Anita Brandt
Primary Institution: The University of Texas Medical Branch
Hypothesis
Does chronological age modify the relationship between health status and perceived health in middle-aged and older adults?
Conclusion
Older adults in Mexico tend to have positive perceptions of their health despite having multiple health conditions.
Supporting Evidence
- 44.5% of participants reported their health as better than their peers.
- The probability of better perceived health decreased with more health conditions.
- Older adults aged >80 had similar perceptions of health regardless of having 0 to 3 health conditions.
Takeaway
This study found that older people often feel good about their health, even if they have several health problems.
Methodology
Logistic regression models were used to estimate predicted probabilities of perceived health based on age and health conditions.
Participant Demographics
Participants were middle-aged and older adults from Mexico, grouped by age and number of health conditions.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.009
Statistical Significance
p=0.009
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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