A longitudinal analysis of discrete negative emotions and health-services use in elderly individuals.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that everyday, discrete negative emotions-anger, frustration, sadness, and fear-relate to health-service use in later life.


METHODS
Community-dwelling adults (n = 345) ages 72 to 99 were interviewed about the frequency of recently experienced emotions. Physician visits and hospital admissions in the subsequent 2 years were outcomes. Covariates included prior use of health services, chronic illness, functional status, and demographics.


RESULTS
Age, education, and gender moderated relations between negative emotions and health care use. More frustration was associated with fewer physician visits among older individuals. Sadness was associated with more hospital admissions for women. Among those with more education, frequent anger was associated with more physician visits. Projected effects of negative emotions resulted in increases in health-service use, ranging from 18% to 33%.


CONCLUSIONS
The interactions indicate the importance of negative emotions and the larger social and developmental context in health care services use among elderly individuals.
McKeen
Nancy A
NA
Department of Psychiatry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 3P5, Canada. ummckeen@cc.umanitoba.ca
Chipperfield
Judith G
JG
Campbell
Darren W
DW
D000368:Aged; D000786:Anger; D003863:Depression; D004522:Educational Status; D004644:Emotions; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D005639:Frustration; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006304:Health Status; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009819:Office Visits; D012737:Sex Factors