Correlates of Self Rated Health among Elderly Men and Women from Different Social Classes: A Prospective Study

Department Of Psychology, Sampurna Montfort College, Bengaluru, India ,Subramanyam V

doi:10.47191/ijmra/v5-i1-19

Department Of Psychology, Sampurna Montfort College, Bengaluru, India , Subramanyam V

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.47191/ijmra/v5-i1-19

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Abstract

Majority of elderly women experience apprehensions of health and disability especially when they enter 60 plus years. One of the psychological markers of long life is self-rated health which is revealed by western and eastern longitudinal studies on longevous individuals. Self-efficacy beliefs of health as a moderator variable that determine physical wellbeing which in turn leads to mental well-being. Keeping aforementioned in view, data on SRH and its correlates have been identified from a 3-year prospective study carried out on three cohort groups (55-60; 61-65; 66-70). A sample of 480 community dwelling elderly men and women of different social classes (schedule class, schedule tribe & general open category - non-SC & ST groups) were drawn from 50-59(N=160), 60-69(N=160), and 70-79 (N=160) age groups. Multistage random sampling technique was used to draw subjects from rural areas of Chittoor, Kadapa and Nellore districts. Data pertaining to 480 middle aged and elderly men and women over three consecutive years of testing indicate a significant association between self-rated health with self-regulation, state and trait anxiety, anger, social supports, physical and mental activity, health behavior motivation, health behavior practices and stress, Health care implications are discussed.

Highlights

The self-rating of health is an important psychological parameter in the evaluation of health of an elderly person
Such selfassessment of health (SAH) has intrigued because SAH is an important predictor of number of future health outcomes, such as mortality (Benyami & Idler, 1999), new morbidity (Boswirth & Schaie, 1997), functional ability (Idler & Kasl, 1995), health care utilization and hospitalization, recovery from illness, and future physical ratings of health (Maddox & Doughlass, 1973)
Physical activity (PA) plays a key role in maintaining health and mobility in old age; the evidence for the health benefits of PA is stronger for adults 65 years and older than for any other age group because the consequences of inactivity are more severe for this age group

Summary

Introduction

The self-rating of health is an important psychological parameter in the evaluation of health of an elderly person. One of the objectives the study is to assess the correlates of self-rated health (Subjective) among elderly. To realize this an attempt has been made to examine the association of SRH and a set of independent variables viz., self-regulation, state anger, trait anger, anger in and anger control, social supports, health behaviour-practices, health behaviour-motivation, physical, and mental activities and stress included in the study and subjected through correlational analysis in time, time, and time Health can be conceptualized and measured in many ways.

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