Predictors of Health Status of Mid-Life Women:

Abstract

Psychological, behavioral, environmental and sociodemoeraohic oredictors of health status were examined in a sample of mid-life women participating in a longitudinal investigation which had its genesis with data collection at the 1982 World's Fair and a metropolitan hospital in Tennessee. Correlates of good health were optimistic disposition, internal locus of control, education, income, employment outside the home, moderate exercise and sleeping 7-8 hours per night. Variables negatively related to health were stress (measured both in terms of major life change and in terms of frequency and severity of daily hassles), external locus of control beliefs, packyears of smoking, post-menopausal status, body mass index, and anger symptomatology (physiologic expression of anger, as assessed by the Frarningham Anger Symptoms Scale). Age and social support variables were not related to health status, nor were the anger-in, anger-out, and anger-discuss modes of expressing anger. The regression model accounted for 56% of the variance in health status. Because physiologic expression of anger (i.e., headache, weakness, shakiness) was the only mode of anger expression sigmificant- Py related to poorer health, this phenomenon was examined more closely. Correlational analyses revealed that anger symptoms were related to loss of an important relationship in the past year and inversely related to several other social sup ort variables (affect, affirmation and aid from significant others). Contrary to previous studies indicating that suppressed anger is the more harmful form, women high in anger symptoms also directed their anger outward. They tended to blame others and to take their anger out on others. The majority (66%) of mid-life women in this sample reported severe daily hassles. Of those women experiencing high stress in terms of daily hassles, most (59%) were also experiencing stress in terms of major life change. High stress and anger somatization were significantly correlated. Causal inferences cannot be drawn from this descriptive-comelational study. However, a segment of women in mid-hfe enjoy Uess than optimal health while experiencin high levels of stress and expressing anger in ways which not onf fail to accompiish pmblem resolution but also may alienate significant others. Implications for counseling and for future research are discussed.