Longitudinal Findings From the Normative Aging Study: 1. Does Mental Health Change With Age?

Longitudinal changes in self-reported symptoms were investigated using the Cornell Medical Index (CMI) in a sample of 2,041 men. The average man completed 5 CMIs (range = 2-8) over 17 (range = 2-25) years. Using a two-stage growth model, we first regressed symptoms against time on study for each man...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychology and aging 1989-09, Vol.4 (3), p.295-306
Main Authors: Aldwin, Carolyn M, Spiro, Avron, Levenson, Michael R, Bossé, Raymond
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Boston
Cohort Studies
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Mental Disorders - epidemiology
Mental Disorders - psychology
Middle Aged
Reference Values
Risk Factors
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Summary:Longitudinal changes in self-reported symptoms were investigated using the Cornell Medical Index (CMI) in a sample of 2,041 men. The average man completed 5 CMIs (range = 2-8) over 17 (range = 2-25) years. Using a two-stage growth model, we first regressed symptoms against time on study for each man. The average slope of physical symptoms showed a moderate increase over time, but the average slope of psychological symptoms showed little change. Next, individual differences in change were examined using age at entry as an explanatory variable. Age accounted for 50% of the variance in physical symptoms at entry and 7% of the variance in slopes, but explained neither baseline level nor change in psychological symptoms. Rather, a U-shaped curve described the relation between age and psychological symptom change. These results, in concert with a developmental perspective, may help reconcile conflicting findings on aging and mental health.
ISSN:0882-7974
1939-1498
DOI:10.1037/0882-7974.4.3.295