Health Aspirations in the Context of Age and Self-rated Health

Abstract

The present research examined the respondents’ preferences for approach and avoidance health aspirations (i.e. health related life goals) in relation to their age and self-rated health (SRH) in a representative Hungarian sample ( N = 4841). Higher age predicted stronger preference for both orientations of health aspirations while SRH attenuated this relationship for approach and amplified it for avoidance health aspiration. Bad SRH predicted elevated preference for approach health aspirations in younger age while it predicted greater preference for avoidance aspirations in older age. Results and implications are discussed with reference to aging and health.