Worse Physical Health Status Research Articles

The Longitudinal Interplay between Sleep, Anthropometric Indices, Eating Behaviors, and Nutritional Aspects: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Sleep is fundamental for adolescents' healthy development but undergoes dramatic changes in quantity and quality due to the conflict between biological and social rhythms. Insufficient sleep has been associated with worse physical health status and irregular eating behaviors in adolescents. This review aims to systematically synthesize the longitudinal associations between adolescents' sleep dimensions (i.e., duration, timing, quality, and insomnia symptoms) and physical health indicators (i.e., anthropometric indices, fat percentage, and risk of obesity), eating behaviors, and nutritional aspects (i.e., type of diet related to the intake of specific foods and nutrients, amount and timing of food consumption, energy expenditure). A total of 28 longitudinal studies were included. The meta-analytic results showed that longer sleep duration, better sleep quality, and lower insomnia symptoms were associated with lower BMI and fat percentage and that shorter sleep duration (<7 h) and lower sleep quality were associated with a higher risk of obesity. Conversely, anthropometric indices were not related to sleep over time. Limited literature examined the bidirectional association between adolescents' sleep and their eating behaviors and nutritional aspects. Such knowledge sheds new light on the role of sleep for adolescents' health, highlighting the need to examine further the interplay between these variables.

The long-term consequences of China's “Later, Longer, Fewer” campaign in old age

We examine how China's “Later, Longer, Fewer” (LLF) policies in the early 1970s affect the quality of life of the Chinese elderly forty years later. We identify the causal impact of the LLF policies by exploiting the provincial heterogeneity in policy implementation. We find that the LLF policies reduced the total fertility rate by 1.57 from 1969 to 1978, explaining about half of the decline in fertility during this period. Parents do not receive fewer financial support as a consequence, but they have fewer children living close by and receive fewer contacts and visits from children. We find that the impacts of the family planning policies on elderly parents' physical and mental well-being are drastically different: parents more exposed to family planning policies do not suffer from worse physical health status, but report more severe depression symptoms.

Mechanisms from Food Insecurity to Worse HIV Treatment Outcomes in US Women Living with HIV

Food insecurity (FI) contributes to HIV-related morbidity and mortality, but the mechanisms whereby FI negatively impacts HIV health are untested. We tested the hypothesis that FI leads to poor HIV clinical outcomes through nutritional, mental health, and behavioral paths. We analyzed data from Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) among 1803 women living with HIV (WLWH) (8225 person-visits) collected from 2013 to 2015 biannually from nine sites across the United States participating in the WIHS. FI was measured with the US Household Food Security Survey Module. Outcomes included HIV viral nonsuppression, CD4 cell counts, and physical health status (PHS). We used longitudinal logistic and linear regression models with random effects to examine associations adjusting for covariates and path analysis to test nutritional, mental health, and behavioral paths. Increasing severity of FI was associated with unsuppressed viral load, lower CD4 counts, and worse PHS (all p < 0.05). Report of FI 6 months earlier was independently associated with most outcomes after adjusting for concurrent FI. For viral nonsuppression, the nutritional and behavioral paths accounted for 2.09% and 30.66% of the total effect, with the mental health path operating via serial mediation through the behavioral path. For CD4 count, the mental health and behavioral paths accounted for 15.21% and 17.0% of the total effect, respectively. For PHS, depressive symptoms accounted for 60.2% of the total effect. In conclusion, FI is associated with poor health among WLWH through different paths depending on the outcome. Interventions should target FI and its behavioral and mental health mechanisms to improve HIV outcomes.

Do psychiatric patients experience more psychiatric symptoms during COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown? A case-control study with service and research implications for immunopsychiatry

This study aimed to assess and compare the immediate stress and psychological impact experienced by people with and without psychiatric illnesses during the peak of 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic with strict lockdown measures. Seventy-six psychiatric patients and 109 healthy control subjects were recruited from Chongqing, China and completed a survey on demographic data, physical symptoms during the past 14 days and a range of psychiatric symptoms using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). IES-R measures PTSD symptoms in survivorship after an event. DASS-21 is based on tripartite model of psychopathology that comprise a general distress construct with distinct characteristics. The mean IES-R, DASS-21 anxiety, depression and stress subscale and ISI scores were higher in psychiatric patients than healthy controls (p < 0.001). Serious worries about their physical health, anger and impulsivity and intense suicidal ideation were significantly higher in psychiatric patients than healthy controls (p < 0.05). More than one-third of psychiatric patients might fulfil the diagnostic criteria post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). More than one-quarter of psychiatric patients suffered from moderately severe to severe insomnia. Respondents who reported no change, poor or worse physical health status and had a psychiatric illness were significantly more likely to have higher mean IES-R, DASS depression, anxiety and stress subscale scores and ISI scores (p < 0.05). This study confirms the severity of negative psychological impact on psychiatric patients during the COVID-19 epidemic with strict lockdown measures. Understanding the psychological impact on psychiatric patients during the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to provide insight into how to develop a new immunopsychiatry service. Further research is required to compare pro-inflammatory cytokines between psychiatric patients and healthy controls during the pandemic.

Frequent attendance in primary care in the oldest old: evidence from the AgeCoDe-AgeQualiDe study.

There are very few studies examining the determinants of frequent attendance in primary care among the oldest old. The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of frequent attendance among individuals aged 85years or older. Cross-sectional data stem from the multicenter prospective cohort "Study on needs, health service use, costs and health-related quality of life in a large sample of oldest old primary care patients (85 +)" (AgeQualiDe). This study covers very old primary care patients (n = 861, mean age of 89.0years±2.9; 85-100years). The number of self-reported GP visits in the preceding 3 months was used to quantify frequent attenders. We defined patients in the top decile as frequent attenders. Multiple logistic regressions showed that frequent attendance was associated with more chronic diseases (adjusted OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.01-1.23), worse functioning (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.95-0.99), worries about one's financial situation (OR 2.20, 95% CI 1.07-4.53) and it was inversely associated with depression (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.08-0.80). In contrast to studies based on younger samples, different factors were associated with frequent users in our study, showing that it is important to study the determinants of frequent attendance among the oldest old. In Germany, among the group of the oldest old, frequent attendance was positively associated with worse physical health status (e.g., number of chronic diseases), but negatively with depression. This might indicate that the German health care system is responsive to the physical, but not psychological needs of the oldest old.

The Support for New Mums Project: A protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial designed to test a postnatal psychoeducation smartphone application.

To report a pilot trial protocol for testing the effectiveness of the Support for New Mums smartphone application in a cohort of first-time mothers. A pilot/feasibility randomized controlled trial using a two-group pre-test and repeated post-test design. This protocol follows the Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Intervention Trials (SPIRIT) guidelines. The Intervention group will receive access to the smartphone application for 6weeks post birth. Both Intervention and control groups will receive standardized institutional postnatal care services. Trial funding was gained from respective grant sponsors in May and November 2016. The Support for New Mums smartphone application could be a novel method for addressing the gap in provision of postpartum care services providing psychoeducation and improving maternal parental self-efficacy for Australian childbearing women. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12618001580268.

Pre–Post Release Health in US Adult Male Convicts

This study sought to determine whether need for healthcare and reported health status among adult men (N = 1,113) in US Federal prisons (in 12 states) changed from pre-release to 15 months after release by analyzing data collected by the Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative (SVORI). Specifically, the study was guided by three questions: (1) were there changes in treatment for specific diseases; (2) were there changes in health status, need for care, and access to and satisfaction with healthcare; and (3) did various social determinants of health predict any of the health outcomes at 15-month follow-up. The analysis of SVORI data found that men reported lower physical and mental health status and declines in receiving treatment following release, but greater satisfaction with healthcare. Further, analysis found the best predictors of health status as being satisfied with access to health care as well as employment. The greatest declines were in mental health treatment, however those ceasing treatment did not report worse physical health status, mental health scores, housing, employment, or recidivism. Future research is needed to determine the significance of the link between employment, satisfaction with access to health care, and health status among ex-prisoners.

Victimization and posttraumatic stress disorder in homeless women with mental illness are associated with depression, suicide, and quality of life.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine the following: 1) the proportion of women in the homeless population with schizophrenia (SZ) or bipolar disorder (BD), in addition to the trajectory of their homelessness (ie, homelessness history, number of nights spent without home during the 180 past nights) and the characteristics of their illnesses compared to men (ie, illness severity, suicide risk, physical health status, and quality of life [QoL]); 2) whether these women were victimized more frequently than similarly situated men; 3) the impact of victimization on these women in terms of illness severity, suicide risk, physical health status, and QoL; and lastly 4) the differences and overlap of homeless women with SZ and BD.MethodsThis study employed data at baseline from a multicenter randomized controlled trial conducted in the following four large French cities: Lille, Marseille, Paris, and Toulouse. Mobile mental health outreach teams recruited SZ/BD homeless patients in the street, emergency shelters, hospitals, and jails from August 2011 to April 2014. Evaluations were performed during face-to-face interviews by psychiatrists and research assistants in the offices of mobile mental health outreach teams that were located in the downtown area of each city. The quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive analyses, chi-square and Student’s t-tests, generalized estimating equation regression models, and path analysis.ResultsA total of 703 patients were included in this study. The proportion of women in the SZ/BD homeless population was 123/703 (17.5%). In this population, women were more likely than men to declare that they were subjected to physical or sexual assault during the past 6 months, that they had been diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and that they had experienced more severe depressive symptoms. Moreover, these women presented a higher suicide risk, worse physical health status, and lower QoL than similarly situated men. Homeless women with BD were more vulnerable than women with SZ. A path analysis revealed that PTSD and violent victimization might explain the higher levels of depression and suicide risk and the lower levels of physical health status and QoL in homeless women.ConclusionSZ/BD homeless women experience more PTSD and victimization than men, which are both associated with poor clinical outcomes. These results confirm the vulnerability of homeless women in this high need population and should be considered by public health policy.

Delirium in the ICU and Subsequent Long-Term Disability Among Survivors of Mechanical Ventilation*

Survivors of critical illness are frequently left with long-lasting disability. The association between delirium and disability in critically ill patients has not been described. We hypothesized that the duration of delirium in the ICU would be associated with subsequent disability and worse physical health status following a critical illness. Prospective cohort study nested within a randomized controlled trial of a paired sedation and ventilator weaning strategy. A single-center tertiary-care hospital. One hundred twenty-six survivors of a critical illness. Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU, Katz activities of daily living, Functional Activities Questionnaire (measuring instrumental activities of daily living), Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form General Health Survey Physical Components Score, and Awareness Questionnaire were used. Associations between delirium duration and outcomes were determined via proportional odds logistic regression with generalized estimating equations (for Katz activities of daily living and Functional Activities Questionnaire scores) or via generalized least squares regression (for Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form General Health Survey Physical Components Score and Awareness Questionnaire scores). Excluding patients who died prior to follow-up but including those who withdrew or were lost to follow-up, we assessed 80 of 99 patients (81%) at 3 months and 63 of 87 patients (72%) at 12 months. After adjusting for covariates, delirium duration was associated with worse activities of daily living scores (p = 0.002) over the course of the 12-month study period but was not associated with worse instrumental activities of daily living scores (p = 0.15) or worse Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form General Health Survey Physical Components Score (p = 0.58). Duration of delirium was also associated with lower Awareness Questionnaire Motor/Sensory Factors scores (p 0.02). In the setting of critical illness, longer delirium duration is independently associated with increased odds of disability in activities of daily living and worse motor-sensory function in the following year. These data point to a need for further study into the determinants of functional outcomes in ICU survivors.

Co-morbid depression and chronic illness related to coping and physical and mental health status

A partial latent structural regression analysis was used to evaluate the role of coping resources, depression, diet and exercise on mental and physical health status. The sample consisted of 113 participants (59 females and 54 males) with a mean age of 59.38 years (SD = 10.52). Coping resources, depression and exercise explained 52 and 26% of the variance in mental and physical health status, respectively. Fewer coping resources predicted higher levels of depression and both predicted worse mental health. Only higher levels of depression predicted worse physical health status. There were also significant indirect effects of coping on mental and physical health status through depression. The development of cognitive, social and emotional coping strategies is important for managing depression and supporting positive mental health. These results highlight the important role of health psychologists in the care of individuals with chronic illness. Additionally, the management of depression is important in maintaining positive physical health.

Physical activity and physical functioning in Swedish and Iranian 75-year-olds – A comparison

Background and purpose: The pattern of population aging is highly complex and contextually based. Cross-national comparisons are helpful to explore related factors. Two cross-sectional studies designed to compare physical activity level, physical functioning and certain health related factors in 75-year-old women and men in Sweden and Iran. Materials and methods: Cohorts of 637 Swedish and 851 Iranian 75-year-olds were investigated with the same methods regarding physical activity level, physical functioning and health related factors. Results: There were differences in physical activity level (p<0.001), self-reported physical functioning (p<0.001) objective physical functioning (p<0.001), health status (p<0.001) and most socio-demographic aspects between the two countries. Here the Swedish cohort had the advantage. There was no difference between the countries regarding prevalence of vertigo or falls. The only variables where the Iranian cohort had advantage over the Swedes were grip strength and smoking habits. There were larger gender differences in walking habits, self-selected walking speed, timed chair stand, and one-leg stance in Iran, and in grip strength in Sweden, all to the disadvantage of women. Conclusions: Iranian 75-years-olds had a lower physical activity level, a worse lower extremity physical function but a better grip strength, a worse physical health status, but smoked less than their Swedish counterparts. Despite this, there were no differences regarding vertigo or falls. In most aspects, the magnitude of gender differences was about the same and in disadvantage of women, although there were larger differences in Iran in some lower extremity functions.

Impact of peripheral arterial disease on health status: A comparison with chronic heart failure

To further document the experienced burden in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), we compared the health status of patients with PAD and chronic heart failure (CHF). As a secondary aim, we studied clinical and socio-demographic correlates of health status in both conditions. We conducted a cross-sectional observational study in four outpatient clinics in the Southern part of The Netherlands, with subjects consisting of ambulatory (346 PAD and 188 CHF) patients. All patients completed the Short-Form 12 to assess their physical and mental health status. Information about socio-demographic, clinical risk factors, and disease severity indices was obtained from patients' medical records. Propensity methodology was applied to enhance comparability between both medical conditions. Type of medical condition explained differences in health status (F = 33.1, P < .0001, Effect Size = 0.27). Impaired physical health status was more often reported in PAD patients (48.4%) compared with CHF patients (17.4%, Odds Ratio [OR] = 4.4, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 2.3-8.8, P < .0001); impaired mental health status was more noted in CHF patients (43.5% vs. 22.0%, OR = 1.7, 95% CI 1.2-2.6, P = .002). In PAD, younger age (P = .002), low education (P = .02), cardiac history (P = .02), diabetes mellitus (P = .03), and a lower ankle brachial index (P = .003) were associated with worse physical health status; younger age (P = .01) and living without partner (P = .01) were associated with lower mental health status scores. In CHF, patients with comorbid diabetes mellitus (P < .001) and females (P = .001) reported worse physical health, whereas no clinical or socio-demographics were associated with mental health status. By contrasting PAD patients' health status with another chronic disabling condition, the impact of PAD on patients' physical health status became evident; whereas mental health status was more affected in CHF, patients with PAD reported a greater physical burden as compared with CHF patients. PAD patients who were younger, lower-educated, without a partner or had a cardiac history especially reported a higher disease burden. Clinicians need to be aware of these differences in order to develop tailor-made disease management programs for different groups of cardiovascular patients.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is increasingly recognized as a cause of substantial disability. In addition to its tremendous mental health burden, PTSD has been associated with worse physical health status and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. To determine whether PTSD is associated with cardiovascular health status in patients with heart disease and whether this association is independent of cardiac function. Cross-sectional study. The Heart and Soul Study, a prospective cohort study of psychological factors and health outcomes in adults with stable cardiovascular disease. One thousand twenty-two men and women with coronary heart disease. Posttraumatic stress disorder was assessed using the Computerized Diagnostic Interview Schedule for DSM-IV. Cardiac function was measured using left ventricular ejection fraction, treadmill exercise capacity, and inducible ischemia on stress echocardiography. Disease-specific health status was assessed using the symptom burden, physical limitation, and quality of life subscales of the Seattle Angina Questionnaire. We used ordinal logistic regression to evaluate the association of PTSD with health status, adjusted for objective measures of cardiac function. Of the 1022 participants, 95 (9%) had current PTSD. Participants with current PTSD were more likely to report at least mild symptom burden (57% vs 36%), mild physical limitation (59% vs 44%), and mildly diminished quality of life (62% vs 35%) (all P < or = .001). When adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors and objective measures of cardiac function, PTSD remained independently associated with greater symptom burden (odds ratio, 1.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-2.9; P = .004); greater physical limitation (odds ratio, 2.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-3.6; P = .001); and worse quality of life (odds ratio, 2.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.6-3.9; P < .001). Results were similar after excluding participants with depression. Among patients with heart disease, PTSD is more strongly associated with patient-reported cardiovascular health status than objective measures of cardiac function. Future studies should explore whether assessing and treating PTSD symptoms can improve function and quality of life in patients with heart disease.

Health status and suicide in the second half of life

To examine the associations of suicide in the second half of life with medical and psychiatric illness, functional limitations, and reported use of inpatient, ambulatory, and home health care services. A retrospective case-control design was used to compare 86 people over age 50 years who died by suicide with a comparison group of 86 living community participants that were individually matched on age, gender, race, and county of residence. Suicide decedents had more Axis I diagnoses, including current mood and anxiety disorders, worse physical health status, and greater impairment in functional capacity. They were more likely to have required psychiatric treatment, medical, or surgical hospitalization in the last year, and visiting nurse or home health aide services. In a multivariate model, the presence of any active Axis I disorder and any impairment in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) made independent contributions to suicide risk. Mental illness, physical illness, and associated functional impairments represent domains of risk for suicide in this age group. In addition to individuals with psychiatric illness, those with severe or comorbid physical illness and functional disability who require inpatient and home care services should be targeted for screening and preventive interventions.

The impact of dyspnea on health-related quality of life in patients with coronary artery disease: Results from the PREMIER registry

Both angina and dyspnea are prevalent symptoms among post-myocardial infarction (MI) patients. Given their frequent overlap, little is known about the degree to which these symptoms provide independent information in this population. Using the multicenter Prospective Registry Evaluating Myocardial Infarction: Events and Recovery (PREMIER), 1,835 patients were administered the Rose Dyspnea Scale (scores range 0-4; higher scores indicate worse dyspnea), Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ; lower scores indicate worse angina), and 12-item Short Form physical component (PCS; lower scores indicate worse physical health status) at 1 and 12 months post-MI. Multivariable regression was used to examine the association between dyspnea and quality of life (QOL) in both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses as well as its association with rehospitalizations and mortality. At 1-month follow-up, 863 patients (47%) reported dyspnea, and 340 (19%) noted moderate to severe dyspnea. After adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical factors including SAQ angina frequency, higher dyspnea scores remained strongly associated with worse QOL in both cross-sectional (1-U dyspnea increase = 2.5-point PCS decrease and 2.4-point SAQ QOL decrease) and longitudinal analyses (1-U dyspnea increase from 1 month to 1 year = 3.8-point PCS decrease and 3.5-point SAQ QOL decrease), and with increased risk of 1-year rehospitalization (hazard ratio 1.15/1 U of dyspnea, 95% CI 1.07-1.24) and 3-year mortality (hazard ratio 1.34/1 U of dyspnea, 95% CI 1.19-1.51; P < .001 for all analyses). Among post-MI patients, dyspnea is common and strongly associated with impaired QOL, more frequent rehospitalization, and reduced survival--independent of both clinical factors and angina. These findings suggest that dyspnea is an important component of disease-specific health status for post-MI patients, and its assessment should be strongly considered in both research studies and clinical practice.

The Short Form—12 and the measurement of health status in patients with cerebral aneurysms: performance, validity, and reliability

Cerebral aneurysms can affect a patient's health status by rupture and stroke, impingement on neural structures, treatment side effects, or psychological stress. The authors assessed the performance, validity, and reliability of the Short Form-12 (SF-12), a self-administered written survey instrument, to assess health status in patients with cerebral aneurysms. A cohort of 170 patients with cerebral aneurysms who were seen at a neurosurgery clinic underwent structured interviews including measurement of their health statuses (SF-12 physical component summary [PCS] and mental component summary [MCS]), functional status (Glasgow Outcome Scale score, modified Rankin Scale score, and Barthel Index), and mental health (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale score). The SF-12 scores were compared with US population norms by performing t-tests with unequal variances. The validity of the SF-12 was assessed by comparing the PCS and MCS scores with each patient's functional status and mental health scores by using rank-order methods. Inter-item reliability was assessed using the Cronbach alpha statistic. Patients with cerebral aneurysms had decreased health status PCS and MCS scores when compared with population norms (p < 0.001 for all). A history of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) (p = 0.006) and previous surgical or endovascular treatment (p = 0.047) was associated with worse PCS scores. The validity of the SF-12 was supported by the relationship between the PCS and MCS scores and the patient's functional status and mental health (p < 0.001 for all). The reliability of the SF-12 was documented by the Cronbach alpha statistic (alpha = 0.76). Patients with cerebral aneurysms have a diminished physical and mental health status as measured using the SF-12. The presence of SAH and aneurysm treatment are associated with a worse physical health status. The SF-12 is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring health status in patients with cerebral aneurysms.

General Health Status of Children With d -Transposition of the Great Arteries After the Arterial Switch Operation

Background To study the long-term impact on general health status of d -transposition of the great arteries (D-TGA) after the arterial switch operation (ASO) during infancy, we asked parents to complete the Child Health Questionnaire, Parent Form-50 when their children were 8 years old. Methods and Results Of 160 eligible patients, questionnaires were completed for 155 subjects (96%). Median age at surgery was 6 days (range 1 to 67 days), and median age at completion of the Child Health Questionnaire was 8.1 years (7.6 to 10.0 years). Subsequent to questionnaire completion, children underwent psychometric testing. Mean Physical Health Summary and Psychosocial Summary scores were 54.0±6.1 and 49.7±9.9, respectively, which were similar to those of normal subjects. Compared with the normative sample, parents of D-TGA patients reported more problems with attention, learning, and speech, as well as greater frequency of developmental delay ( P &lt;0.001 for each). Worse Psychosocial Summary scores were significantly associated with lower full-scale IQ ( P =0.001) and lower achievement in reading ( P =0.005) and math ( P =0.007). Worse Physical Health Summary scores were associated with longer hospital stay after the ASO ( P =0.02). General health status scores were not significantly related to presence of ventricular septal defect, age at surgery, perfusion variables during the ASO, sex, or history of cardiac reoperation. Conclusions At age 8 years, children with D-TGA after ASO have an overall physical and psychosocial health status similar to that of the general population. Lower IQ and academic achievement are associated with worse psychosocial health status, whereas longer hospital course after initial surgery is associated with worse physical health status.

The role of social comparisons processes in the psychological adaptation of elderly adults.

Social comparison processes were investigated as mechanisms by which elderly women maintain or enhance their psychological well-being in the face of health-related threats or loss. In Study 1, a measure of social comparisons was tested, and a preliminary model of the effects of health and social comparisons on depression was examined (N = 42). In Study 2, a separate sample of elderly women (N = 243) completed self-report measures concerning physical health, upward and downward social comparison processes, and positive and negative aspects of psychological adaptation. As predicted, worse physical health status was linked to more frequent social comparisons; however, more positive social comparisons were related to better mental health outcomes, even for women in poor health. In fact, the effects of social comparisons were strongest for women in the poorest health, resulting in psychological outcomes similar to women in good health. Thus, social comparisons appear to play a significant role in psychological well-being in old age. The findings also point to the importance of distinguishing between frequency and consequences of social comparison processes.