Native American elders' health congruence: the role of gender and corresponding functional well-being, hospital admissions, and social engagement.
Addressing the need to explore how Native American (NA) elders' subjective health (SH) compares to their objective health (OH; chronic disease conditions), we examined whether: congruence between 8191 NA elders' SH and OH parallels that of non-NA elders; health optimism (SH > OH) is protective and health pessimism (SH < OH), is detrimental; and whether gender moderates links between health congruence and health-related outcomes. Results comparing health optimists and pessimists to realists in functioning, hospitalizations, and social engagement showed optimists experienced better outcomes; pessimists had poorer outcomes; the role of health congruence differed by gender. Findings suggest implications for improving health-related outcomes among NA elders.
Ruthig
Joelle C
JC
Department of Psychology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, USA. joelle.ruthig@und.nodak.edu
Allery
Alan
A
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012649:Self Concept; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires