Anton Schönstein1, Dhayana Dallmeier2,3, Michael Denkinger2, Dietrich Rothenbacher4, Jochen Klenk4, Anke Bahrmann1,5, Hans-Werner Wahl1,6. 1. Network Aging Research (NAR), Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany. 2. University of Ulm, AGAPLESION Bethesda Clinic, Geriatric Center Ulm/Alb-Donau, Ulm, Germany. 3. Dept. of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, USA. 4. Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany. 5. Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany. 6. Institute of Psychology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Previous research supports that subjective views on aging (VoA), such as older subjective age (SA) and negative attitudes toward own aging (ATOA) go along with negative outcomes. A differentiated treatment of health and disease as antecedents of VoA is largely lacking. Therefore, our objective was to estimate the relationship between generally framed physical, affective, and cognitive health as well as specific diseases and VoA, operationalized both as SA and ATOA. METHODS: Data was drawn from the ActiFE-Ulm study for which a representative sample of community-dwelling older people (65-90 years) was recruited at baseline. Follow-ups were conducted 7.7 years (median) after recruitment (N=526). Health and disease related data at baseline, based on established assessment procedures for epidemiological studies, were regressed on VoA (1-item SA indicator, 5-item ATOA scale) measures at follow-up. RESULTS: Reported severity of affective health problems such as depression was the strongest general risk-factor for both older SA and negative ATOA. Also, some but not all major diseases considered were associated with VoA. Notably, back pain predicted negative ATOA, while cancer was associated with older SA. Rheumatism was linked with more negative ATOA along with higher SA. Throughout analyses, explained variance in ATOA was considerably higher than in SA. CONCLUSIONS: Affective health problems, such as depression, should be regarded as a major correlate of subjective aging views. Interestingly, diseases do not have to be life-threatening to be associated with older SA or negative ATOA.
OBJECTIVES: Previous research supports that subjective views on aging (VoA), such as older subjective age (SA) and negative attitudes toward own aging (ATOA) go along with negative outcomes. A differentiated treatment of health and disease as antecedents of VoA is largely lacking. Therefore, our objective was to estimate the relationship between generally framed physical, affective, and cognitive health as well as specific diseases and VoA, operationalized both as SA and ATOA. METHODS: Data was drawn from the ActiFE-Ulm study for which a representative sample of community-dwelling older people (65-90 years) was recruited at baseline. Follow-ups were conducted 7.7 years (median) after recruitment (N=526). Health and disease related data at baseline, based on established assessment procedures for epidemiological studies, were regressed on VoA (1-item SA indicator, 5-item ATOA scale) measures at follow-up. RESULTS: Reported severity of affective health problems such as depression was the strongest general risk-factor for both older SA and negative ATOA. Also, some but not all major diseases considered were associated with VoA. Notably, back pain predicted negative ATOA, while cancer was associated with older SA. Rheumatism was linked with more negative ATOA along with higher SA. Throughout analyses, explained variance in ATOA was considerably higher than in SA. CONCLUSIONS: Affective health problems, such as depression, should be regarded as a major correlate of subjective aging views. Interestingly, diseases do not have to be life-threatening to be associated with older SA or negative ATOA.
Authors: Julia S Nakamura; Joanna H Hong; Jacqui Smith; William J Chopik; Ying Chen; Tyler J VanderWeele; Eric S Kim Journal: JAMA Netw Open Date: 2022-02-01
Authors: Katsiaryna Laryionava; Anton Schönstein; Pia Heußner; Wolfgang Hiddemann; Eva C Winkler; Hans-Werner Wahl Journal: J Aging Health Date: 2021-12-30