title: Psychosocial and behavioural contributors to health: age-related increases in physical disability are reduced by physical fitness.
abstract: The aging process is associated with increased risk for disease which can cause physical and economic burden for older adults. In a national longitudinal sample of 3910 participants aged 24-75 years (55% women), we examined psychosocial and behavioural factors associated with physical health in adulthood. With hierarchical regression analyses controlling for Time 1 values of the dependent variable and demographic characteristics, we found that participants reporting better social relations, a higher sense of control, a smaller waist circumference and greater physical activity at Time 1 reported better self-rated physical health (Adj. R(2) = 0.33, F (11, 3661) = 164.66, p < 0.001) and less physical disability (Adj. R(2) = 0.44, F (13, 3659) = 226.25, p < 0.001) 9 years later than their counterparts reported. Furthermore, significant interactions showed that smaller waist circumference and greater physical activity at Time 1 attenuated age-related increases in physical disability. Beneficial effects of physical fitness are considered within the context of lifespan theories of health, and implications for interventions are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Sacramento State University, Sacramento, CA 95819-6007, USA. cotterk@csus.edu
authors.forename: Kelly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Cotter
authors.forename: Margie E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Lachman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010809:Physical Fitness; D055815:Young Adult