The Relationship between Mental Health and Self-rated Health in Older Adults

Ai Nakano
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Ai Nakano: Graduate School of Economics, Kobe University

No 1423, Discussion Papers from Graduate School of Economics, Kobe University

Abstract: In this study, the relationship between mental health measured by the CES-D scale and self-rated health (SRH) in older Japanese adults was examined using longitudinal micro datasets from the National Survey of the Japanese Elderly (NLSG). Two equations for the relationship between mental health and SRH are estimated simultaneously, and the results showed that SRH had an effect on mental health, and mental health had an effect on SRH. Thus, the mind and body are connected and influence each other. We also determine other important factors that influence health. Age, gender, physical activity, functional abilities such as ADL and IADL, and economic status are associated with both mental and perceived health; having a chronic illness is strongly associated with perceived health; and interpersonal relationships have an effect on mental health. he results suggest that older adults should work on both mind and body to live healthy lives.

Keywords: mental health; self-rated health; the mutual dependence of mind and body (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 18 pages
Date: 2014-09
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-age and nep-hea
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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