Some correlates of self-rated health for Australian women.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify some of the correlates of self-rated health for young to middle-aged Australian women. METHODS: Regression analyses were based on a 4-year longitudinal study using a random sample of Sydney women 20 to 59 years of age at baseline. Participants were interviewed in 1986/87 and 1990. RESULTS: Cross-sectional relationships between self-assessed health and other health measures varied significantly by age, although physical health was a common correlate. Sixty-three percent of participants reported a similar rating of health over the 4-year period between the surveys. Changes in self-assessed health were sensitive to chronic disease. Also, participants' self-ratings of health were related to their subsequent chronic disease status. CONCLUSIONS: Self-rated health reflects a complex process of internalized calculations that encompass both lived experience and knowledge of disease causes and consequences. Women seem to take into consideration a broad range of factors, including lifestyle, vitality, mental attitude, and age, and, if they have a health condition, the chronicity of their disease, duration since diagnosis, and treatment.

Change in health-related quality of life after cataract surgery in a population-based sample

“…[22][23][24] We have previously reported a cross-sectional association between low vision and low self-rated health, 8 but could not demonstrate a longitudinal effect of change in vision on subsequent change in self-rated health. 21 Our failure in this study to document a parallel association of cataract surgery (to improve vision) with temporal changes in self-rated health could be due to a relatively low impact from reduced vision (and hence restoration by cataract surgery) on the ranking of global perception of health in older persons, compared to other age-related chronic conditions.…”

Percepção de saúde e fatores associados em industriários de Santa Catarina, Brasil

“…Porém, por mais que os indicadores relativos à percepção de saúde coincidam com evidências de outras investigações 10,12 , análises paralelas para este grupo de trabalhadores 17 evidenciaram maior simultaneidade de fatores de risco à saúde entre homens. Logo, na interpretação dos dados, deve-se considerar uma aparente divergência no rigor do autoconceito, da concepção e dos cuidados com a saúde entre os sexos, uma vez que, assim como relata Shadbolt 18 , a percepção de saúde entre mulheres reflete um processo complexo que envolve a experiência de vida, presença de doenças crônicas, vitalidade, atitude mental e estilo de vida.…”

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and health: does the relationship differ by sex?

“…This five-point ordinal measure is scored so that five indicates 'excellent' health. A wide literature has consistently shown this measure to be a strong predictor of subsequent mortality and morbidity (Ferraro et al, 1997;Grand et al, 1988;Haga et al, 1995;Idler and Kasl, 1995;Jagger, Spiers, and Clarke, 1993;Kaplan et al, 1993;Møller et al, 1996;Mor et al, 1994;Shadboldt, 1997; for a review of 46 other studies see Idler and Benyamini, 1997;Benyamini and Idler, 1999). Therefore, this simple measure appears to be a valuable indicator of overall wellbeing.…”