Abstract
Objective
to analyze the direct and indirect associations between self-rated health, objective health indicators and neuroticism in older adults.
Method
Data were extracted from follow-up records (2016-2017) of the Study of Frailty in Brazilian Elderly (FIBRA Study), a population-based study of frailty and associated variables in old age. Three hundred and ninety-seven individuals aged 73 years and over at follow-up answered an item on self-rated health. Polimedication, chronic pain and multimorbidity were self-reported, fatigue was measured by CES-D, depression by GDS and neuroticism by NEO-PI-R. Path analysis was performed to verify direct and indirect associations between self-rated health, objective health indicators and neuroticism in the follow-up.
Results
Neuroticism mediated the relationship between sex and age with self-rated health, and between depression and self-rated health. More robust relationships were observed between depression and neuroticism, pain and neuroticism, and sex and neuroticism; the least robust occurred between age and fatigue.
Conclusion
Neuroticism is an important mediator of the relationship between self-rated health and objective health indicators. Longitudinal work is needed to
Keywords
Elderly; Chronic Diseases; Pain; Neuroticism; Self-Assessment