title: Examination of Age Variations in the Predictive Validity of Self-Rated Health.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The high predictive validity of self-rated health (SRH) is a major strength of this widely used population health measure. Recent studies, however, noted that the predictive validity varies across population subgroups. The aim of this study is to examine respondents' age as a moderator of SRH predictive validity with respect to subsequent mortality risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using data from the National Health Interview Survey-Linked Mortality Files (NHIS-LMF) 1986-2006, we estimate Cox proportional hazard models of all-cause and cause-specific mortality for adults aged 45-84 years as a function of their health ratings (N = 574,008).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data show significant age moderation of the predictive validity of SRH across all levels of ratings: the hazard ratios for mortality decline by about a half between the ages of 50 and 80 years. This attenuation appears primarily among earlier birth cohorts; there is no significant age attenuation in more recent cohorts-however, this may be in part attributed to the earlier ages when the respondents are observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of declining predictive validity of SRH across age imply that individuals may evaluate their health differently as they age. The results also suggest caution in using SRH to capture age-related health changes in the older population.
authors: Department of Sociology, University of Wyoming, Laramie. zajacova@uwyo.edu.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Zajacova
authors: Department of Sociology, Portland State University, Oregon.
authors: Hyeyoung
authors: H
authors: Woo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012306:Risk; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Age; Birth cohorts; Mortality; Predictive validity; Self-rated health; U.S. adults