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Age, symptom interpretation, and health behavior.

E A Leventhal, T R Prohaska

    Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
    |March 1, 1986
    PubMed
    Summary
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    Illness perceptions and health practices remain consistent across adulthood. However, older adults increasingly attribute mild symptoms to aging, leading to passive coping strategies.

    Area of Science:

    • Gerontology
    • Health Psychology
    • Behavioral Medicine

    Background:

    • Understanding how individuals perceive illness and engage in health behaviors is crucial for effective public health strategies.
    • Illness perception and health practices evolve across the adult lifespan, influencing health outcomes.
    • The aging process may alter symptom interpretation and coping mechanisms.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To explore the role of symptom perceptions and health-promoting practices in illness behavior throughout adulthood.
    • To examine how symptom qualities (severity, duration, label) influence attributions to aging and coping strategies.
    • To compare illness perceptions and prevention strategies across different adult age groups.

    Main Methods:

    • Two studies were conducted: one assessing health practices and illness perceptions in well adults (N=396, ages 20-89), and a community study (N=614) on symptom attribution and coping.

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  • Data collection involved assessing perceptions of six specific illnesses and their associated symptoms.
  • Statistical analyses examined age-related differences in symptom attribution and coping strategies.

    • Main Results:

    • Health-promoting activities increase with age, but illness perceptions and prevention strategies are similar across adulthood.
    • Symptom identification is consistent across adulthood, with a notable decrease in the use of mild, ambiguous symptoms by the elderly.
    • Attribution of mild, short-term symptoms to aging increases with age, correlating with greater symptom acceptance and passive coping.

    Conclusions:

    • While health practices differ, core illness perceptions are stable across adulthood.
    • The elderly's tendency to attribute mild symptoms to aging warrants attention for potential intervention.
    • Clinical and policy interventions should consider age-related shifts in symptom perception and coping to promote active health management.