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Subjective Health and Illness, Coping and Life Satisfaction in an 80-Year-Old Swedish Population - Implications for Mortality

Steij Stålbrand, Ingela LU orcid ; Svensson, Torbjörn LU ; Elmståhl, Sölve LU ; Horstmann, Vibeke LU ; Hagberg, Bo LU ; Dehlin, Ove LU and Samuelsson, Gillis LU (2007) In International Journal of Behavioral Medicine 14(3). p.173-180
Abstract
Background: Multimorbidity and illness will become more common due to increased life expectancy.

Purpose: This study describes various combinations of diseases and symptoms and explores implications for survival in a sample of 80 year-olds followed up to 95 years of age. Furthermore, reported subjective health, coping, and life satisfaction is explored.

Method: 212 persons, born in 1908, were classified into four groups based on their number of diseases and reported symptoms according to a health examination at the age of 80. These groups were compared regarding standardized measurements of subjective health, depression, coping, life satisfaction, and mortality.

Results: The mortality risks, the hazard ratios,... (More)
Background: Multimorbidity and illness will become more common due to increased life expectancy.

Purpose: This study describes various combinations of diseases and symptoms and explores implications for survival in a sample of 80 year-olds followed up to 95 years of age. Furthermore, reported subjective health, coping, and life satisfaction is explored.

Method: 212 persons, born in 1908, were classified into four groups based on their number of diseases and reported symptoms according to a health examination at the age of 80. These groups were compared regarding standardized measurements of subjective health, depression, coping, life satisfaction, and mortality.

Results: The mortality risks, the hazard ratios, were of the same magnitude, 1.8-2.2, whether the persons experienced several symptoms, had several diseases, or a combination of several symptoms and several diseases when compared to the healthy group of respondents.

Conclusion: The experience of subjective signs of illness carries the same mortality risks as diseases. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
coping behavior, cohort, elderly, mortality, comorbidity
in
International Journal of Behavioral Medicine
volume
14
issue
3
pages
173 - 180
publisher
Routledge
external identifiers
  • wos:000249959900008
  • scopus:35148819374
ISSN
1070-5503
DOI
10.1080/10705500701527653
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
e886ddb2-a5ec-4d44-bd52-64b99dc43780 (old id 961629)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:15:35
date last changed
2025-10-14 10:09:41
@article{e886ddb2-a5ec-4d44-bd52-64b99dc43780,
  abstract     = {{Background: Multimorbidity and illness will become more common due to increased life expectancy. <br/><br>
Purpose: This study describes various combinations of diseases and symptoms and explores implications for survival in a sample of 80 year-olds followed up to 95 years of age. Furthermore, reported subjective health, coping, and life satisfaction is explored. <br/><br>
Method: 212 persons, born in 1908, were classified into four groups based on their number of diseases and reported symptoms according to a health examination at the age of 80. These groups were compared regarding standardized measurements of subjective health, depression, coping, life satisfaction, and mortality. <br/><br>
Results: The mortality risks, the hazard ratios, were of the same magnitude, 1.8-2.2, whether the persons experienced several symptoms, had several diseases, or a combination of several symptoms and several diseases when compared to the healthy group of respondents. <br/><br>
Conclusion: The experience of subjective signs of illness carries the same mortality risks as diseases.}},
  author       = {{Steij Stålbrand, Ingela and Svensson, Torbjörn and Elmståhl, Sölve and Horstmann, Vibeke and Hagberg, Bo and Dehlin, Ove and Samuelsson, Gillis}},
  issn         = {{1070-5503}},
  keywords     = {{coping behavior; cohort; elderly; mortality; comorbidity}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{173--180}},
  publisher    = {{Routledge}},
  series       = {{International Journal of Behavioral Medicine}},
  title        = {{Subjective Health and Illness, Coping and Life Satisfaction in an 80-Year-Old Swedish Population - Implications for Mortality}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10705500701527653}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/10705500701527653}},
  volume       = {{14}},
  year         = {{2007}},
}