Importance of Personality for Objective and Subjective-Physical Health in Older Men and Women

Do discrepancies between subjective and objective health shift over time in later life? A markov transition model

Subjective health (SH) deteriorates less rapidly than objective health (OH) in older adults. However, scant evidence exists regarding if discrepancies between SH and OH shift in the same individuals over time. We explore whether such discrepancies change over time in a sample of older adults living in England, through a prospective, observational cohort study design. Using data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, we followed a sample of 6803 older adults, aged 60+ years at baseline, over three waves of data collection (2002-2007), yielding two wave transitions. A 'health asymmetry' metric classified older adults into four categories at each wave, based on the level of agreement between their SH and OH scores ('health pessimist', 'health optimist', 'good health realist' and 'poor health realist'). First-order Markov transition and generalised logit models yielded estimated transition probabilities and odds ratios for health asymmetry transitions over time. At baseline, 36.84% of the sample were 'good health realists', 33% were 'poor health realists', 14.54% were 'health optimists', and 15.62% were 'health pessimists'. Good and poor health realists were likely to remain health realistic over time. Good health realists who did transition however, were likely to become health optimists. Subsequently, the proportion of health optimists in the sample increased over time. Health pessimists had a high probability of being lost to study attrition. In conclusion, health optimism (i.e. where SH is rated better than OH) becomes more prevalent over time, in later life. Future research should investigate if promoting positive SH appraisals among health pessimists and poor health realists can optimise health and survival outcomes.

Subjective and objective health according to the characteristics of older adults: Using data from a national survey of older Koreans

As society rapidly ages, older adults are becoming an important national issue. Health is a multidimensional concept and both objective and subjective health must be managed. This study investigated factors that influence the subjective and objective health of older adults. This study analyzed the data of 9391 people aged ≥65 years using raw data from a 2020 survey of senior citizens. The relationships among the characteristics of older adults, such as demographic variables, lifestyle, external activities, environment, physical function, depression, cognition, activities of daily living, satisfaction with life and health, perceived health level, and number of diseases, were investigated. Older adults who drink and do not exercise generally have good objective health but poor subjective health. Older adults who mainly engage in external activities tend to have poor subjective health despite good objective health. The factors affecting subjective health in older adults were depression, cognition, physical factors, activities of daily living, and satisfaction. This study identified the differences between subjective and objective health based on the characteristics of older adults. As many variables affecting the health of older adults have been identified, these basic data will help prepare various programs to promote a healthy life for older adults.

Is childhood oral health the 'canary in the coal mine' for poor adult general health? Findings from two New Zealand birth cohort studies

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate whether childhood dental caries was associated with self-reported general health in midlife.

METHODS

We used data on childhood oral health (caries experience) and adult self-reported general health from two New Zealand longitudinal birth cohorts, the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study (n = 922 and n = 931 at ages 5 and 45 years, respectively), and the Christchurch Health and Development Study (n = 1048 and n = 904 at ages 5 and 40 years, respectively). We used generalized estimating equations to examine associations between age-5 dental caries and self-rated general health and the number of self-reported physical health conditions at ages 45/40 (diagnosed by a doctor or health professional, n = 14 conditions among both cohorts). Covariates included known risk factors for poor health (SES, IQ, perinatal complications), and personality style, which is known to affect subjective health ratings.

RESULTS

Incidence rate ratios for 'Excellent' self-rated health were lower among those who had high experience of dental caries as children than those who had not in both, the Dunedin (IRR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.50, 1.14) and Christchurch studies (IRR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.47, 1.00). Childhood dental caries was not associated with the number of self-reported physical health conditions in midlife, in either cohort. Dunedin Study members who at age 5 were not caries-free or whose parents rated their own or their child's oral health as poor were less likely to report 'Excellent' self-rated general health at age 45 than those who were caries-free and whose parents did not give a 'poor' rating (IRR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.49, 0.97).

CONCLUSIONS

Five-year-olds with greater caries experience were more likely to have poorer self-rated general health by midlife. Beyond this longitudinal association, future research should examine whether childhood dental caries is associated with objective/biological markers of physical health and whether it may have utility as an early indicator for poor general health in adulthood.

Associations between dairy consumption, physical activity, and blood pressure in Chinese young women

Introduction

The prevalence of hypertension (HTN) has been increasing in young adults. A healthy dietary pattern and increasing physical activity (PA) are commonly recommended as lifestyle modifications needed to manage blood pressure (BP). However, little is known about the relationship between dairy intake, PA, and BP in Chinese young women. The aim of this study was to examine whether BP was associated with dairy intake, moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) and total physical activity (TPA) in a sample of Chinese young women.

Methods

A total of 122 women (20.4 ± 1.4) who had complete data sets from the Physical Fitness in Campus (PFIC) study were included in this cross-sectional analysis. Data related to dairy intake and PA was collected using a food frequency questionnaire and an accelerometer. BP was measured following standardized procedures. The association between BP with dairy intake and PA was examined using multivariable linear regression models.

Results

After controlling for potential covariables, we observed a significant and independent relationship only between systolic BP with dairy intake [standardized beta (b) = -0.275, p < 0.001], MVPA (b = -0.167, p = 0.027), and TPA (b = -0.233, p = 0.002). Furthermore, we found a decrease of 5.82 ± 2.94, 1.13 ± 1.01, and 1.10 ± 0.60 mm Hg in systolic BP for daily additional servings of dairy, 10 min of MVPA, and 100 counts per minute of TPA, respectively.

Conclusion

Our results suggested that the higher amount of dairy consumption or PA was associated with lower level of SBP in Chinese young women.