Pain and self-assessed health: does the association vary by age?

Social Science & Medicine
Sara Rubin, Zachary Zimmer

Abstract

The association between pain and self-assessed health among adults age 20 and older is examined with data from the 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a cross-sectional nationally representative survey of the civilian, non-institutionalized US population. Models emphasize whether and how the association differs across age cohorts. 5032 respondents age 20 and older were asked about their experience with pain. Responses are used to create two different pain measures: general and site-specific. Self-assessed health is categorized into groups that are ordered from fair/poor to excellent. Bivariate analyses and ordered logistic regressions reveal pain, measured both ways, have robust inverse associations with self-assessed health. Associations remain robust after adjusting for a series of health conditions and indicators plus demographic, socioeconomic and social support characteristics. Models test the effect of age by pain interactions on self-assessed health and confirm substantial variation across cohorts. Those of middle-age, 40-59, display the strongest association while self-assessed health is virtually unassociated among older-old, those 80 and older. Findings suggest that the way pain impacts self-as...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jun 26, 2020·Journal of Aging and Health·Zachary ZimmerHanna Grol-Prokopczyk
Mar 27, 2018·The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences·Zachary Zimmer, Anna Zajacova
Jul 21, 2021·Journal of Health and Social Behavior·Anna ZajacovaZachary Zimmer
Dec 30, 2021·Journal of Health and Social Behavior·Morgan Peele, Jason Schnittker

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