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. 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.

[1]  J. Robins,et al.  Explaining discrepancies between longitudinal and cross-sectional models. , 1986, Journal of chronic diseases.

[2]  J. Berger,et al.  Empirical Bayes Estimation of Rates in Longitudinal Studies , 1983 .

[3]  N W Shock,et al.  Longitudinal Studies on the Rate of Decline in Renal Function with Age , 1985, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

[4]  J. Abramson.  The cornell medical index as an epidemiological tool. , 1966, American journal of public health and the nation's health.

[5]  L. Cronbach.  Statistical tests for moderator variables: flaws in analyses recently proposed , 1987 .

[6]  Bruce C. Greenwald,et al.  A general analysis of bias in the estimated standard errors of least squares coefficients , 1980 .

[7]  E. Pfeiffer,et al.  Mental illness in later life , 1974 .

[8]  D. Blazer,et al.  Handbook of Geriatric Psychiatry , 1980 .

[9]  Anthony S. Bryk,et al.  Application of Hierarchical Linear Models to Assessing Change , 1987 .

[10]  C. Hertzog,et al.  Measurement in the psychology of adulthood and aging. , 1985 .

[11]  P. Thoits,et al.  The distribution of distress among elders. , 1986, Journal of gerontology.

[12]  C. Aldwin,et al.  Emotionality and mental health: longitudinal findings from the normative aging study. , 1988, Journal of abnormal psychology.

[13]  M. Kermis.  The epidemiology of mental disorder in the elderly: a response to the Senate/AARP report. , 1986, The gerontologist.

[14]  R. Zemore,et al.  Psychic and somatic symptoms of depression among young adults, institutionalized aged and noninstitutionalized aged. , 1979, Journal of gerontology.

[15]  P. Bentler,et al.  Significance Tests and Goodness of Fit in the Analysis of Covariance Structures , 1980 .

[16]  A. Beck.  Depression : clinical, experimental, and theoretical aspects , 1967 .

[17]  P. Costa,et al.  Psychiatric symptom dimensions in the Cornell Medical Index among normal adult males. , 1977, Journal of clinical psychology.

[18]  D. Stokols,et al.  The effects of environmental change on individuals and groups: Some neglected issues in stress research. , 1988 .

[19]  L. Radloff.  The CES-D Scale , 1977 .

[20]  E. Erikson.  Childhood and Society , 1965 .

[21]  K. Schaie.  A GENERAL MODEL FOR THE STUDY OF DEVELOPMENTAL PROBLEMS. , 1965, Psychological bulletin.

[22]  P. Costa,et al.  Hypochondriasis, neuroticism, and aging. When are somatic complaints unfounded? , 1985, The American psychologist.

[23]  G. Vaillant,et al.  Natural history of male psychologic health: effects of mental health on physical health. , 1979, The New England journal of medicine.

[24]  J. Abramson,et al.  Cornell Medical Index as a health measure in epidemiological studies. A test of the validity of a health questionnaire. , 1965, British journal of preventive & social medicine.

[25]  D. Seigel.  Several Approaches for Measuring Average Rates of Change for a Second Degree Polynomial , 1975 .

[26]  M. Powell Lawton,et al.  Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics , 1988, Springer Berlin Heidelberg.

[27]  A. H. Norris,et al.  The effect of age on creatinine clearance in men: a cross-sectional and longitudinal study. , 1976, Journal of gerontology.

[28]  J. Ware.  Linear Models for the Analysis of Longitudinal Studies , 1985 .

[29]  B. J. Winer.  Statistical Principles in Experimental Design , 1992 .

[30]  Denise C. Park,et al.  Handbook of the Psychology of Aging , 1979 .

[31]  M M Weissman,et al.  Six-month prevalence of psychiatric disorders in three communities 1980 to 1982. , 1984, Archives of general psychiatry.

[32]  David Rogosa,et al.  A growth curve approach to the measurement of change. , 1982 .

[33]  J. Rowe,et al.  Human aging: usual and successful. , 1987, Science.