Self-rated health among the elderly. A comparative analysis of health status measures, leisure activities and social contacts in age/sex groups.

A comparative analysis of self-rated health (SRH) by demographic characteristics, health status measures, leisure activities and social contacts was performed in four age/sex groups of elderly. The relative contribution of each group of variables to the explained variation in SRH was assessed using multiple regression analyses. A stratified sample drawn in an Israeli city led to 606 structured home interviews. The results show that: 1) for all groups the strongest correlates with SRH are health status measures, 2) for all groups the weakest correlates with SRH are demographic variables, 3) a significant relationship is found between SRH and age at immigration only for younger males, and 4) the explanatory power of social contacts and leisure activity variables varies significantly among the different groups. These factors explain relatively more of SRH in the younger age groups, and especially among younger males. Such findings suggest careful analyses of concepts in different socio-demographic groups for theoretical reasons and for purposes of planning health promotion community programs.