Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T16:50:18.503Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Longitudinal Examination of the Functional Status of Older Adults: Successful Aging Within a Representative Canadian Sample

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Norm O'Rourke
Affiliation:
University of Ottawa
Richard MacLennan
Affiliation:
University of Regina
Thomas Hadjistavropoulos
Affiliation:
University of Regina
Holly Tuokko
Affiliation:
University of Victoria

Abstract

Palmore, Nowlin, and Wang (1985) posit a theoretical framework in which to predict the health status of older adults over time as a function of social, economic, physical and mental health variables. The current study provides the first independent, empirical test of this model based upon longitudinal data derived from a representative sample of older British Columbians. The results of this study support the basic structure of the Palmore model; however, various revisions were required to improve the fit of data. Findings indicate that demographic and socio-economic variables have a direct effect upon functional status at baseline. Results further suggest significant consistency in the functional status of older adults over a two-year interval. Directions for future research as well as limitations of the current study are discussed.

Résumé

Palmore, Nowlin, et Wang (1985) proposent un cadre de travail permettant de prédire l'état de santé des aîné(e)s dans le temps en fonction des variables sociales, économiques, physiques et mentales. L'étude courante fournit le premier test distinct et empirique du genre basé sur des données longitudinales tirées d'un échantillonnage représentatif d'aîné(e)s de la Colombie-Britannique. Les résultats de l'étude soutiennent la structure fondamentale du modèle Palmore; cependant, il a fallu effectuer plusieurs révisions pour améliorer l'adéquation des données. Les résultats indiquent que les variables démographiques et socio-économiques ont un effet direct sur les capacités fonctionnelles de base. Ils font également ressortir une uniformité significative des capacités fonctionnelles des aîné(e)s dans un intervalle de deux ans. Le texte traite aussi de l'orientation que prendra éventuellement la recherche ainsi que les limites de l'étude en cours.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2000

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Byrne, B.M. (1998). Structural equation modeling with LISREL, PRELIS, and SIMPLIS: Basic concepts, applications, and programming. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.Google Scholar
Canadian Study of Health and Aging Working Group (CSHA). (1994). Canadian Study of Health and Aging: Study methods and prevalence of dementia. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 150, 899913.Google Scholar
Fozard, J.L., Metter, J., & Brant, L.J. (1990). Next steps in describing aging and disease in longitudinal studies. Journal of Gerontology, 45, P116–P127.Google Scholar
Friedan, B. (1993). Fountain of age. New York: Simon & Schuster.Google Scholar
Hershman, D.L., Simonoff, P.A., Frishman, W.H., Paston, F., & Aronson, M.K. (1995). Drug utilization in the old old and how it relates to self-perceived health and all-cause mortality: Results from the Bronx Aging Study. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 43, 356360.Google Scholar
Hirdes, J.P., & Forbes, W.F. (1993). Factors associated with the maintenance of good self-rated health. Journal of Aging and Health, 5, 101122.Google Scholar
Hoyle, R.H., & Smith, G.T. (1994). Formulating clinical research hypotheses as structural equation models: A conceptual overview. Journal of Clinical and Consulting Psychology, 62, 429440.Google Scholar
Jöreskog, K.G., & Sörbom, D. (1996). LISREL 8: User's reference guide. Chicago, IL: Scientific Software.Google Scholar
Kline, R.B. (1991). Latent variable path analysis in clinical research: A beginner's tour guide. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 47, 471484.3.0.CO;2-O>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mossey, J.M., & Shapiro, E. (1982). Self-rated health: A predictor of mortality among the elderly. American Journal of Public Health, 72, 800808.Google Scholar
Palmore, E.B., Nowlin, J.B., & Wang, H.S. (1985). Predictors of function among the old-old: A ten-year follow-up. Journal of Gerontology, 40, 244250.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rakowski, W., & Wilcox, V. (1994). Integrating self-rated health and social involvement for the examination of mortality among older persons. Omega, 29, 95111.Google Scholar
Roos, N.P., & Havens, B. (1991). Predictors of successful aging: A twelve-year study of Manitoba elderly. American Journal of Public Health, 81, 6368.Google Scholar
Rowe, J.W., & Kahn, R.L. (1987). Human aging: Usual and successful. Science, 237, 143149.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schoenfeld, D.E., Malmrose, L.C., Blazer, D.G., Gold, D.T., & Seeman, T.E. (1994). Self-rated health and mortality in the high-functioning elderly — a closer look at healthy individuals: MacArthur Field Study of Successful Aging. Journal of Gerontology, 49, M109–M115.Google Scholar
Schulz, R., & Heckhausen, J. (1996). A life span model of successful aging. American Psychologist, 51, 702714.Google Scholar
Seeman, T.E., Charpentier, P.A., Berkman, L.F., Tinetti, M.E., Guralnik, J.M., Albert, M., Blazer, D., & Rowe, J.W. (1994). Predicting changes in physical performance in a high-functioning elderly cohort: MacArthur Studies of Successful Aging. Journal of Gerontology, 49, M97–M108.Google Scholar
Siegler, I.C. (1983). Psychological aspects of the Duke Longitudinal Studies. In Schaie, K.W. (Ed.), Longitudinal studies of adult psychological development (pp. 136190). New York: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Statistics Canada. (1994). Population projections for Canada, provinces and territories: 1993–2016. (Catalogue No. 91–520). Ottawa, ON: Supply and Services Canada.Google Scholar
Tabachnick, B.G., & Fidell, L.S. (1996). Using multivariate statistics (3rd ed.). New York: Harper Collins.Google Scholar
Teng, E.L., & Chui, H.C. (1987). The modified mini-mental state (3MS) examination. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 48, 314318.Google Scholar
Ullman, J.B. (1996). Structural equation modeling. In Tabachnick, B.G. & Fidell, L.S. (Eds.), Using multivariate statistics (pp. 709811). New York: Harper Collins.Google Scholar
Vaillant, G.E. (1991). The association of ancestral longevity with successful aging. Journal of Gerontology, 46, P292–P298.Google Scholar
Vaillant, G.E., & Vaillant, C.O. (1990). Natural history of male psychological health, XII: A 45-year study of predictors of successful aging at age 65. American Journal of Psychiatry, 147, 3137.Google ScholarPubMed