Identifying factors associated with self-rated health according to age at onset of disability

Abstract

Purpose: Although later-onset disability has been associated with poor self-rated health (SRH), factors mediating differences in SRH related to age at onset of disability remain unclear. The present study was designed to identify the variables explaining poor SRH in later-onset disability. We examined chronic disease and functional status as alternatives to psychosocial adaptation as explanatory variables. Method: Our data were taken from the seventh National Survey for People with Disabilities among Korean individuals ≥18 years of age (n =5311). Results: Those with later-onset disability (onset ages 20–40, 41–64 and ≥65 years) showed higher age-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for poor SRH compared with those with earlier-onset disability (onset ages 0–19 years). The ORs for poor SRH in individuals with later-onset disability were not substantially changed after adjusting for confounding variables including alternatives to psychosocial adaptation (chronic diseases and functional status) as explanatory variables. Conclusions: Failure to explain poor SRH in later-onset disability with explanatory variables other than psychosocial adaptation indirectly supports the role of psychosocial adaptation in differences in SRH related to age at onset. Because we could not include appropriate measures of psychosocial adaptation, the use of additional instruments should be considered in future studies.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Poor health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in later-onset disability is not merely due to more prevalent chronic disease and worse functional status.

• Strategies in helping with psychosocial adaptation after disability may be important to promote HRQOL in people with later-onset disability.

Keywords::

• Activities of daily living
• adaptation
• age of onset
• chronic disease
• disabled persons
• health status
• psychosocial

Declaration of Interest: There was no source of funding for this study. The authors have no conflict of interest relating to this study. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.