Faculty Collaboration Database

Trajectories of positive aging: observations from the women's health initiative study. Int Psychogeriatr 2014 Aug;26(8):1351-62

Date

04/18/2014

Pubmed ID

24739218

DOI

10.1017/S1041610214000593

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84903612126 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   10 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to describe the longitudinal trajectories and bidirectional relationships of the physical-social and emotional functioning (EF) dimensions of positive aging and to identify their baseline characteristics.

METHODS: Women age 65 and older who enrolled in one or more Women's Health Initiative clinical trials (WHI CTs) and who had positive aging indicators measured at baseline and years 1, 3, 6, and 9 were included in these analyses (N = 2281). Analytic strategies included latent class growth modeling to identify longitudinal trajectories and multinomial logistic regression to examine the effects of baseline predictors on these trajectories.

RESULTS: A five-trajectory model was chosen to best represent the data. For Physical-Social Functioning (PSF), trajectory groups included Low Maintainer (8.3%), Mid-Low Improver (10.4%), Medium Decliner (10.7%), Mid-High Maintainer (31.2%), and High Maintainer (39.4%); for EF, trajectories included Low Maintainer (3%), Mid-Low Improver (9%), Medium Decliner (7.7%), Mid-High Maintainer (22.8%), and High Maintainer (57.5%). Cross-classification of the groups of trajectories demonstrated that the impact of a high and stable EF on PSF might be greater than the reverse. Low depression symptoms, low pain, and high social support were the most consistent predictors of high EF trajectories.

CONCLUSION: Aging women are heterogeneous in terms of positive aging indicators for up to 9 years of follow-up. Interventions aimed at promoting sustainable EF might have diffused effects on other domains of healthy aging.

Author List

Zaslavsky O, Cochrane BB, Woods NF, LaCroix AZ, Liu J, Herting JR, Goveas JS, Johnson KC, Kuller LH, Martin LW, Michael YL, Robinson JG, Stefanick M, Tinker LF

Author

Joseph S. Goveas MD Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Aged
Aging
Depression
Female
Health Status Disparities
Health Status Indicators
Humans
Middle Aged
Models, Theoretical
Pain
Postmenopause
Quality of Life
Self Report
Social Skills
Social Support
United States
Women's Health