Ageing styles: subjective well-being and somatic complaints in inpatients aged >/=60 years.
BACKGROUND
Recent gerontological research shows a high variability in the elderly population. The aim of the present study is to investigate by means of cluster analysis, as to whether different 'ageing styles' can be identified in a sample of cognitively not impaired older persons, and to assess discrepancies between self-rated and expert-rated psychological and physical health.


METHODS
243 patients aged 60 years and older in a general hospital were investigated using a clinical psychiatric interview, expert ratings, and self-report scales after extensive internal medical diagnostic evaluation.


RESULTS
Five clusters, representing significantly different 'ageing styles' with regard to subjective well-being and subjective physical complaints, could be identified. Two clusters, which together constituted 57% of the sample, represented quite positive and desirable ageing styles. In two clusters (altogether 23% of the sample), there was a discrepancy between medical findings and subjective physical complaints.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings support the notion of high variability in the elderly and the existence of subgroups, which show a discrepancy between subjective assessment of well-being and expert assessment of psychological and physical health and impairment. The recording of subjectively perceived physical complaints should, therefore, be part of the evaluation of older peoples' subjective well-being.
Schneider
Gudrun
G
Department of Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany. schneig@mednet.uni-muenster.de
Driesch
Georg
G
Kruse
Andreas
A
Wachter
Michael
M
Nehen
Hans-Georg
HG
Heuft
Gereon
G
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*