Stressful life events and physician utilization.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Health Services Research
• Psychology

Background:

• Understanding healthcare utilization patterns among older adults is crucial for effective public health strategies.
• The interplay between psychological factors like stress, social support, and health service access requires further investigation in elderly populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the applicability of stress and coping literature to physician utilization patterns in older adults.
• To investigate the relationship between social support, stress levels, and physician visits among the elderly.
• To examine the moderating effect of locus of control beliefs on the association between stress and physician use in older adults.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study design examining physician utilization among older adults.
• Data collection on perceived stress, social support networks, and locus of control orientation.
• Statistical analysis to assess the impact of social support and locus of control on physician visits during stressful periods.

Main Results:

• A partial confirmation was found for the hypothesis that stronger social support correlates with reduced physician visits during high stress.
• Elderly individuals with an internal locus of control demonstrated fewer physician visits under high stress compared to those with an external locus of control.
• The study acknowledges limitations, including the 18-month gap between stress and physician utilization data collection and the absence of longitudinal analysis.

Conclusions:

• Social support and internal locus of control are significant factors influencing physician utilization among older adults facing stress.
• Findings suggest that interventions aimed at strengthening social support systems and fostering internal locus of control may help manage healthcare demands in the elderly population.
• Further longitudinal research is recommended to understand temporal dynamics of stress, coping mechanisms, and healthcare-seeking behaviors in seniors.