Changes over time from baseline poor self-rated health: for whom does poor self-rated health not predict mortality?
The aim of this study was to understand for whom and why poor self-rated health (SRH) is a less valid predictor of longevity or future health by examining the predictors of decline in health among people with poor baseline SRH. The sample included 409 participants in the Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Study of the old-old (75+) in Israel, who were self-respondents and rated their health as poor at baseline and their status was known at follow-up 3.5 years later: deceased/moved to proxy interview/remained in poor SRH/or improved SRH. Baseline measures included self-reported medical status, physical, cognitive, psychological and social functioning. Findings showed that less decline in health was predicted by less difficulty in physical and cognitive functioning at baseline and by a more active physical and social life, after controlling for socio-demographics. Most of the predictors retained a unique contribution in a multivariate model, suggesting that engagement in meaningful activities serves as an indicator of better health and longer survival even within a group of old-old people in poor health. It may reflect greater social support, contribute to fitness and/or provide a sense of mastery, which could explain similar findings regarding gender and race/ethnicity groups for whom SRH is a less potent predictor of mortality.
School of Social Work and Herczeg Institute on Aging, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel. benyael@post.tau.ac.il
Yael
Y
Benyamini
Tzvia
T
Blumstein
Havi
H
Murad
Liat
L
Lerner-Geva
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009026:Mortality; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012650:Self Disclosure