Incongruence between Health Perceptions and Health Problems

Abstract

Subjective ratings of health are not always congruent with other health indices. The present study explored the congruence/incongruence between subjective overall health ratings and diseases/health problems as reported by elderly individuals. The goals were to consider the prevalence of health congruence/incongruence among seniors and to examine whether congruence/incongruence relates to mortality. Overall, it was found that incongruence was more likely to be in the form of more favorable, rather than less favorable, ratings (i.e., overestimates rather than underestimates). The relationship between congruence/incongruence and mortality was explored using three different follow-up periods and was examined separately among those who were well, ill, or neither well nor ill (i.e., typical elders). Although the findings differed depending on length of follow-up and health status, they generally suppported a link between overestimation of health and survival. Even among ill elders, those who overestimated their health were less likely to die than were those who did not.