title: Complementary health approaches for health and wellness in midlife and older US adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize the use of complementary health approaches (CHA) and examine the perceived benefits of using CHA by reason for use among midlife and older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of 2012 National Health Interview Survey data, a nationally representative US sample using cross-tabulations with design-based F-tests and multiple logistic regression. The analytic sample included adults aged over 50 years (N=14,849).
  
  
  METHODS
  The proposed benefits of using CHA included: (1) better control over health, (2) reduced stress/relaxation, (3) better sleep, (4) feeling better emotionally, (5) coping with health problems, (6) improved health/feeling better, and (7) improved relationships.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 31% of this sample of midlife and older US adults had used CHA in the past year. Among users, 15% had used CHA for treatment only, 40% for wellness only, and 45% for combined wellness and treatment. Herbs (60%), chiropractic (28%), massage (22%), and yoga (19%) were the most common CHA. Wellness-only and combined users had significantly higher odds of reporting that CHA conferred benefit compared with treatment-only users.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CHA are used by nearly a third of midlife and older adults and are perceived to provide substantial benefit. Integrating CHA as part of a healthy lifestyle has the potential to contribute to healthy aging among midlife and older adults.
authors.affiliation: Center for Spirituality & Healing, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St. SE, MMC-505, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States; Division of Health Policy & Management, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St. SE, MMC-729, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States. Electronic address: johns245@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Pamela Jo
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Center for Spirituality & Healing, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St. SE, MMC-505, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States; Division of Health Policy & Management, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St. SE, MMC-729, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States.
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jou
authors.affiliation: Center for Spirituality & Healing, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St. SE, MMC-505, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States; Department of Pharmaceutical Care and Health Systems, College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, 7-168 Weaver-Densford Hall, 308 Harvard Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States.
authors.forename: Taeho Greg
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.affiliation: Division of Health Policy & Management, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St. SE, MMC-729, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States.
authors.forename: Todd H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Rockwood
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, UCLA, 650 Charles Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States.
authors.forename: Dawn M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Upchurch
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012890:Sleep; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control; D014481:United States
keywords: Aging; Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM); Health promotion; Midlife; Wellbeing; Wellness