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Self-care among older adults

Author

Listed:
  • Haug, Marie R.
  • Wykle, May L.
  • Namazi, Kevan H.

Abstract

Defining self-care as treatment for a perceived symptom, this paper posits that explanations for such illness behavior will differ depending on whether symptoms experienced are perceived as not serious and most amenable to self-treatment or more serious and less likely to respond to self-care. Borrowing from the Health Belief Model, two major concepts, a health set (consisting of five measures of perceived physical and mental health) and an attitude set (comprising four indicators of belief in physician efficacy) are included to explain rates of self-care across all reported symptoms. Self-care rate, calculated as the percentage of experienced symptoms self-treated without professional advice, was slightly higher for persons whose symptoms were seen as less serious. Measures of self-assessed health were related to self-care for those less severe symptoms, while lower faith in doctors as well as health were more closely related to the ailments perceived as more serious. Implications of the results for further studies are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Haug, Marie R. & Wykle, May L. & Namazi, Kevan H., 1989. "Self-care among older adults," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 29(2), pages 171-183, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:29:y:1989:i:2:p:171-183
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    Cited by:

    1. Ferda Erdem & Murat Atalay, 2017. "The effect of health transformation policies on the resident physicians' perception of the medical profession in Turkey," International Journal of Health Planning and Management, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(2), pages 189-216, April.
    2. Olafsdottir, Sigrun & Pescosolido, Bernice A., 2011. "Constructing illness: How the public in eight Western nations respond to a clinical description of "schizophrenia"," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(6), pages 929-938, September.
    3. Peri J. Ballantyne & Joan A. Marshman & Philippa J. Clarke & J. Charles Victor, 2003. "Use of Medicines by Community Dwelling Elderly in Ontario," Social and Economic Dimensions of an Aging Population Research Papers 103, McMaster University.

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