Perceived health and real health: prevalence among persons aged 60 and older

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the health of the population aged 60 and older, and the relationship between their perception of their health and their real condition. The relationship with social- demographic issues such as gender was also assessed.

Method: Descriptive, transversal and prevalence study of 15 Day and 10 Residential Centers in the province of Almería (Spain), with 1,220 persons aged 60 and older (M = 70.9, SD = 7.9), 48.3% male and 51.7% female.

Measurements: Gender, age, civil status, and the presence of pathologies and health problems, as well as the perceived health level were all assessed.

Results: Health problems related to bones and articulations were the most reported. There are significant differences (P=0.000) in the perception of health between both genders; males have a better perception of their health. There is a negative and significant relation ( P < .001) between age and the perception of health. The number of illnesses (r2 = 0.251), age (r2 = 0.010), and gender (r2 = 0.002) are all part of the explicative model of the perception of health.

Conclusions: The number of illnesses, age, and gender are variables which explain a quarter of the subjective perception of health variable, and thus, they indicate a possible use in the planning of health policies.