title: Effects of chronic illness on daily life and barriers to self-care for older women: A mixed-methods exploration.
abstract: This mixed-methods study examined the subjective experience of living with chronic illness and identified barriers to self-care. Community-dwelling older women with chronic illness completed an initial (N = 138) and follow-up mailed survey 6 months later (N = 130). On average, participants reported four comorbid health conditions and the corresponding physical pain, activities curtailed or relinquished, and time and energy focused on managing health. Only 34% of participants practiced all 10 key self-care behaviors. Reported barriers to self-management included pain, lack of financial resources, and worry. In the regression analysis, having more depressive symptoms was a significant predictor of challenges with self-care behaviors.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Family Studies and Social Work , Miami University , Oxford , Ohio , USA.|c Independent Consultant, Cardiff , California , USA.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Restorick Roberts
authors.affiliation: b Former Associate Professor, Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences , Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland , Ohio , USA.|c Independent Consultant, Cardiff , California , USA.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Betts Adams
authors.affiliation: d Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing , Case Western Reserve University , Cleveland , Ohio , USA.
authors.forename: Camille
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beckette Warner
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Chronic illness; depression; health; self-care; self-management; women