Self-rated health among vulnerable older adults in rural Appalachia.
BACKGROUND
Self-rated health (SRH) predicts service use, morbidity, and mortality. Additionally, SRH has been associated with indices of psychological well-being.


OBJECTIVE
The main focus of the study was to investigate important differences among the lower spectrum of SRH (ie, fair and poor) on indices of well-being.


METHODS
In-person interviews collected data from 207 (M age = 75.8) older rural adults. Data were used to examine differences between those reporting poor, fair, and good or excellent SRH on measures of demographics, and physical and psychological health.


RESULTS
Significant differences emerged between levels of SRH in relation to measures of physical and psychological health. Specifically, individuals with poor SRH were significantly more likely to have (1) illnesses, (2) problems with basic and cognitive tasks of daily living, and (3) depressed affect than individuals reporting good or excellent health. Individuals with poor SRH were significantly more likely to have problems with basic and cognitive tasks of daily living than individuals with fair SRH. No significant differences were found between people reporting fair and good or excellent SRH on illnesses and depressed affect.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that future research should investigate the expansion of the lower-end of the SRH measure to more accurately assess SRH among vulnerable, rural older adults. Such efforts would better inform health care providers, practitioners, and policy makers in rural areas as to how SRH affects the well-being of vulnerable older adults.
Steele
Jenessa C
JC
Department of Human Services, Gerontology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio 43403, USA. jcsteel@bgnet.bgsu.edu
Patrick
Julie Hicks
JH
Goins
R Turner
RT
Brown
David K
DK
D000368:Aged; D001061:Appalachian Region / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D012423:Rural Health; D012647:Self-Assessment; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014903:West Virginia / Q000453:epidemiology