Gerontology & Geriatric Research

Abstract

Perceived versus Actual Health and Nutritional Status: Results from a Cross Sectional Survey of Rural Older Adults

Roschelle Heuberger, Brad van Eeden-Moorefield and Helen Wong

Objectives: Perceptions of health can affect actual health and nutritional status, as well as influence motivation to make changes. This study sought to determine the associations between self-perceived health and actual health, dietary lifestyle, and demographic factors.

Study design: Cross-sectional study Methods: Rural community dwelling older adults (n=1100) in the United States answered a battery of questionnaires administered by trained interviewers. Data on demographics, lifestyle, medication use, medical diagnoses, and other health related items was obtained.

Results: The strongest predictor of perceived health was perceived nutrition. Perceived eyesight, actual medical health, oral health, and ability to complete activities of daily living (ADL) also contributed to perceptions of health to a smaller degree. Actual medical health was the weakest predictor of perceived health in this study. Oral health was the only significant predictor of actual medical health.

Conclusions: This study considered several variables in relation to perceived and actual health and concluded that perceived nutritional status has the strongest effect on overall health perceptions in older adults. Other variables such as housing and ADL did not affect perceived health to the degree expected in this population