Nonauditory determinants of self-perceived hearing problems among older adults: the role of stressful life conditions, neuroticism, and social resources.
BACKGROUND
The present study explored factors that influenced older individuals' subjective perception of hearing problems. In addition to objectively screened hearing ability, nonauditory factors such as stressful life conditions (visual impairment, chronic disease, disability, and recent stressful life events), neuroticism, and social resources were hypothesized to be predictors of self-perceived hearing problems.


METHODS
These hypotheses were tested with a hierarchical regression model using a stratified sample of 425 community-dwelling older individuals (mean age = 72.2).


RESULTS
Individuals with more recent stressful life events, higher levels of neuroticism, and less emotional support reported greater hearing problems after controlling for objectively screened hearing. In addition to the main effects, a significant interaction was observed between neuroticism and screened hearing, indicating that the combination of poor hearing and high neuroticism increased the level of self-perceived hearing problems.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that the effects of nonauditory factors should be taken into account in the application of self-assessed measures of hearing problems.
Jang
Yuri
Y
Institute on Aging, University of South Florida, Tampa 33612, USA. yjang@hsc.usf.edu
Mortimer
James A
JA
Haley
William E
WE
Chisolm
Theresa E Hnath
TE
Graves
Amy Borenstein
AB
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D012944:Social Support