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Physical health, subjective health, and psychological distress in older adults: Reciprocal relationships concurrently and over time

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Abstract

This study addresses the reciprocal associations between physical health (objectively assessed and self-rated) and psychological distress among older adults. Psychological distress (both depressive symptoms and anxiety level) made a significant independent contribution to the prediction of concurrent and future negative perception of one’s health, over and above objective health. As anxious and depressive components of psychological distress intensify, a negative outlook on life includes an increased negative view of one’s health among older adults. Conversely, negative subjective health independently predicted both depressive symptoms and anxiety level, concurrently and over time, over and above objective health. It thus appears that negative health appraisal heralds psychological distress, manifested as depressive symptoms and also anxiety among older adults. Taken together these findings draw the picture of a vicious circle of negative health appraisal leading to depression and anxiety, these in turn leading to further negative perception of health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, 11 Marie Curie Street, P.O. Box 450, Station A, K1N 6N5, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Philippe Cappeliez Ph.D. (full professor in Psychology)

  2. Université Laval in Québec, Canada

    Philippe Landreville Ph.D. (full professor)

  3. Université de Sherbrooke, Canada

    Michel Préville Ph.D. (associate professor, psychologist in private practice)

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  1. Philippe Cappeliez Ph.D.
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  2. Sabine Sèvre-Rousseau
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  3. Philippe Landreville Ph.D.
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Scientific Committee of ESA Study

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Correspondence to Philippe Cappeliez Ph.D..

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His research and teaching activities are in the domain of psychogerontology, especially clinical geropsychology. His research interests include the treatment of depression, and reminiscence and autobiographical memory.

Sabine Sèvre-Rousseau, Psy.D., defended her thesis in developmental psychology at the University of Paris V, Sorbonne. She was the coordinator of the mental health division of the Quebec Research Network on Aging during this study. She is also teaching psychology and statistical sciences at the Universities of Montreal and Sherbrooke.

His research and teaching activities are in the domain of clinical geropsychology. In terms of research, he has a special interest for the etiology, assessment, and treatment of agitation and depression.

Michel Préville, Ph.D., is associate professor at the Université de Sherbrooke, and Researcher at the Research Center on Aging, Scherbrooke Geriatric University Institute. He is director of the Mental Health Division of the Quebec Research Network on Aging.

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Cappeliez, P., Sèvre-Rousseau, S., Landreville, P. et al. Physical health, subjective health, and psychological distress in older adults: Reciprocal relationships concurrently and over time. Ageing Int. 29, 247–266 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-996-1001-y

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