How are biomarkers related to physical and mental well-being?
We investigate how biological markers of individual responses to stressful experiences are associated with profiles of physical and mental functioning in a national sample of middle-aged and elderly Taiwanese. Data come from a population-based sample of middle-aged and elderly Taiwanese in 2000. The data combine rich biological measures with self-reported information on physical and mental health. Grade of membership methods are used to summarize functional status, and multinomial logit models provide information on the association between biological measures and function. The analysis identifies significant associations between biomarkers of stressful experience and profiles of physical and mental functioning. The estimates reveal the potential importance for health of both low and high values of biological parameters. The findings point to directions for future research regarding development of aggregate measures of cumulative dysregulation across multiple physiological systems.
Seplaki
Christopher L
CL
Office of Population Research, Princeton University, New Jersey 08544, USA. cseplaki@princeton.edu
Goldman
Noreen
N
Weinstein
Maxine
M
Lin
Yu-Hsuan
YH
D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D013624:Taiwan
D015415:Biomarkers