Executive functioning independently predicts self-rated health and improvement in self-rated health over time among community-dwelling older adults
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2016Access:
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Mchugh J.E., Lawlor B.A., 'Executive functioning independently predicts self-rated health and improvement in self-rated health over time among community-dwelling older adults', Aging and Mental Health, 20, 4, 2016, 415, 422Download Item:
Abstract:
Objectives: Self-rated health, as distinct from objective measures of health, is a clinically informative metric among older adults. The purpose of our study was to examine the cognitive and psychosocial factors associated with self-rated health.Methods: 624 participants over the age of 60 were assessed at baseline, and of these, 510 were contacted for a follow-up two years later. Measures of executive function and self-rated health were assessed at baseline, and self-rated health was assessed at follow-up. We employed multiple linear regression analyses to investigate the relationship between executive functioning and self-rated health, while controlling for demographic, psychosocial and biological variables.Results: Controlling for other relevant variables, executive functioning independently and solely predicted self-rated health, both at a cross-sectional level, and also over time. Loneliness was also found to cross-sectionally predict self-rated health, although this relationship was not present at a longitudinal level.Conclusion: Older adults' self-rated health may be related to their executive functioning and to their loneliness. Self-rated health appeared to improve over time, and the extent of this improvement was also related to executive functioning at baseline. Self-rated health may be a judgement made of one's functioning, especially executive functioning, which changes with age and therefore may be particularly salient in the reflections of older adults
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http://people.tcd.ie/lawlorba
Author: Mchugh J.E.; LAWLOR, BRIAN
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Aging and Mental Health20
4
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10.1080/13607863.2015.1018866Metadata
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