The development of psychological models for predicting health conditions in retirement age

Abstract

The goal of this research lies in the assessment of predictive validity of psychological markers of health and work capacity of the persons of retirement age, and its comparison with predictive value of medical markers. The survey involved 496 retirees (386 women, 110 men) assigned to the Moscow medical center for cardiology. The research is based on longitudinal case study with two cross-sections. The section included the assessment of personality and life path indicators, medical examinations, psychological and medical predictions of health conditions. The second section included medical examination, assessment of changes in health conditions and preservation of life. The conclusion is made that psychological prognosis is more accurate in predicting preservation of life, while medical – in preservation of health. Psychological markers correlating with health conditions of younger and older retirees (family status, parental status, object of care, absence of bad habits, high level of activity and goal commitment, sociability) were determined retrospectively. Based on that, the author develops the strategies for organization of life path, which makes preservation of life and health more feasible. For young retirees, this is the strategy for combining the care for loved ones with high level of activity and quitting alcohol consumption. For older retirees, this is the strategy for combining care for loved ones with having a family and high level of activity. It is established that psychological markers of health have predictive value and can be recommended for experimental validation of their efficiency as an independent variable.