Factors Associated with the Maintenance of Good Self-Rated Health

Abstract

Using data from the Ontario Longitudinal Study of Aging, the associations of remaining in good self-rated health with various independent variables are examined. Indicators of an "advantaged" socioeconomic status (e.g., relatively high levels of income and education), not smoking, and moderate alcohol use are associated with remaining in good health. The strongest association is observed between a life satisfaction index and remaining in good health, and different explanations are suggested for this finding. Comparisons with the previously reported associations of these same independent variables with mortality show different relationships for the two end points. For example, the associations of several indicators of social relationships with maintaining good self-rated health are not significant, although a strong relationship between social isolation and mortality has been reported. These differences can be explained by assuming that the relationships with the maintenance of good self-rated health can be affected by differential mortality rates.