Do consequences of hardship narrow in later life? The impact of hardship on self-rated health among older adults

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to investigate the association between hardship and self-rated health among older adults and determine whether this association differed by age. MethodsUsing data from the 2014 Survey of Income and Program Participation, we conducted logistic regression analysis to examine the association between hardship and self-rated health among adults aged 55 years and older in the United States, and the moderating effect of age on this relationship. Analyses were weighted using replicate weights provided by the survey. Indicators of hardship were dichotomized (1 = experienced hardship, 0 = no hardship). ResultsAnalyses indicated that individuals who were unable to pay utility bills, unable to pay rent or mortgage, or who experienced food insecurity had higher odds of reporting fair or poor health relative to those not experiencing these hardships. The association between hardship and self-rated health was moderated by age. ConclusionsHardship is directly relevant to health outcomes as it signals unfulfilled needs experienced by individuals lacking adequate economic resources. This study contributes to our understanding of the role of age in the association between hardship and self-rated health.