Characteristics of factors affecting self-rated health in older adults requiring and not requiring support or long-term care

Abstract

  The aim of this study is to explore the characteristics of factors affecting self-rated health (SRH) in older adults requiring support or long-term care. The participants were 1,059 older adults requiring support or long-term care and 1,699 older adults not requiring support or long-term care. We selected each group through a random sampling design in the same community, and the older adults who required support or long-term care were all long-term care insurance system benefiters. We collected their physical factors, psychosocial factors and SRH using a common mail-questionnaire. We clarified the factors affecting SRH in each group with multiple logistic regression analysis. The results showed that not only physical factors as diseases, fall, and ADL but also psychosocial factors such as loneliness and emotional support were significantly associated with SRH in older adults requiring support or long-term care. In another group, however, physical factors such as diseases, fall, and IADL were mainly associated with SRH. These findings indicate that psychological aspects of social relationship are more important than ability in the social environment, in order to facilitate SRH of older adults requiring support or long-term care.