Relationships Between Living Arrangements and Health Status Among Older Adults in the United States, 2009-2014: Findings From the National Health Interview Survey

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith D. Weissman ◽  
David Russell
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Health Status ◽  
National Health ◽  
Living Arrangements ◽  
National Health Interview Survey ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Serious Psychological Distress ◽  
Interview Survey

Limited research has examined how health varies across living arrangements among older adults. Adults aged 65 years and older were sampled from National Health Interview Survey 2009-2014. Four indicators of health (serious psychological distress, health status, functional limitations, and number of health conditions) were compared across older adults living alone, living with others related/unrelated, living with a spouse/partner (no children), and living with children (no spouse/partner). Regression models showed older adults living with others have the poorest health; they were less likely to report excellent or very good health, had serious psychological distress and limitations in activities of daily living (ADLs), and a greater number of health conditions compared with older adults living with a spouse/partner. However, older women living alone or with children were more likely to report two or more health conditions compared with women living with a spouse/partner, suggesting that in older age, there are gender variations in health across living arrangements.

The Relationship Between Living Alone and Self-Rated Health Varies by Age: Evidence From the National Health Interview Survey

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (9) ◽  
pp. 971-980 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carrie Henning-Smith ◽  
Gilbert Gonzales
Keyword(s):  
National Health ◽  
Living Arrangements ◽  
National Health Interview Survey ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Health Interview Survey ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Health Interview ◽  
Interview Survey ◽  
The Relationship

Despite growing attention to the connection between living arrangements and health, less is known about how the health of individuals living alone varies by age. Using data from the 2016 National Health Interview Survey ( N = 30,079), we estimated logistic regression models stratified by age group, comparing health by living arrangement and controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. Middle-aged adults living alone had higher odds of poor/fair self-rated health, compared with adults living with others (35-64 years of age: adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.19, p < .05). In contrast, older adults (65 years and older) living alone had significantly lower odds of reporting poor/fair health than their counterparts living with others (AOR = .70, p < .001). The direction of association between self-rated health and other covariates did not differ by age group. The relationship between living alone and health varies by age and policies and programs designed to support the growing population of people living alone should be tailored accordingly.

scholarly journals Psychological Distress and Hypertension: Results from the National Health Interview Survey for 2004-2013

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 198-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nwakile Ojike ◽  
James R. Sowers ◽  
Azizi Seixas ◽  
Joseph Ravenell ◽  
G. Rodriguez-Figueroa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
National Health ◽  
National Health Interview Survey ◽  
Health Interview Survey ◽  
Psychological Conditions ◽  
Health Interview ◽  
Psychological Distress Scale ◽  
Interview Survey ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Distress Scale

Background/Aims: Psychological conditions are increasingly linked with cardiovascular disorders. We aimed to examine the association between psychological distress and hypertension. Methods: We used data from the National Health Interview Survey for 2004-2013. Hypertension was self-reported and the 6-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale was used to assess psychological distress (a score ≥13 indicated distress). We used a logistic regression model to test the assumption that hypertension was associated with psychological distress. Results: Among the study participants completing the survey (n = 288,784), 51% were female; the overall mean age (±SEM) was 35.3 ± 0.02 years and the mean body mass index was 27.5 ± 0.01. In the entire sample, the prevalence of psychological distress was 3.2%. The adjusted odds of reporting hypertension in psychologically distressed individuals was 1.53 (95% CI = 1.31-1.80, p = 0.01). Conclusion: The findings suggest that psychological distress is associated with higher odds of hypertension after adjusting for other risk factors for high blood pressure. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and to elucidate the mechanisms by which stress increases hypertension risk.

scholarly journals Health Status of Older US Workers and Nonworkers, National Health Interview Survey, 1997–2011

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Kachan ◽  
Lora E. Fleming ◽  
Sharon Christ ◽  
Peter Muennig ◽  
Guillermo Prado ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Status ◽  
National Health ◽  
National Health Interview Survey ◽  
Health Interview Survey ◽  
Health Interview ◽  
Interview Survey
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