Age attributions and aging health: Contrast between the United States and Japan

Becca R. Levy; Ori Ashman; Martin D. Slade

doi:10.1093/geronb/gbp002

Age attributions and aging health: Contrast between the United States and Japan

Becca R. Levy
, Ori Ashman
, Martin D. Slade

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

46 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Older Americans often attribute health problems to old age, rather than to extenuating circumstances. Previous studies of Americans found that age attributions predict adverse health outcomes. We examined whether culture influences both the tendency to make age attributions and their effect on aging health. We found that (a) Japanese were significantly more likely to make age attributions than Americans; (b) age attributions were significantly associated with worse functional health among older Americans, but not older Japanese; (c) interdependence was significantly higher among older Japanese; and (d) older participants higher in interdependence were less likely to experience the association between greater age attributions and worse functional health. This study suggests the association is not inevitable when culture provides a countervailing force.
© The Author 2009

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	335-338
Journal	Journals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
Volume	64
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbp002
Publication status	Published - May 2009
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Publication details (e.g. title, author(s), publication statuses and dates) are captured on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis at the time of record harvesting from the data source. Suggestions for further amendments or supplementary information can be sent to [email protected].

Funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Kimihiro Shio-mura, as well as grants from the National Institute on Aging (K01AG001051) and the Patrick and Catherine Weldon Donaghue Medical Research Foundation awarded to the first author.

Research Keywords

Aging
Attribution
Culture
Health
Japan

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title = "Age attributions and aging health: Contrast between the United States and Japan",

abstract = "Older Americans often attribute health problems to old age, rather than to extenuating circumstances. Previous studies of Americans found that age attributions predict adverse health outcomes. We examined whether culture influences both the tendency to make age attributions and their effect on aging health. We found that (a) Japanese were significantly more likely to make age attributions than Americans; (b) age attributions were significantly associated with worse functional health among older Americans, but not older Japanese; (c) interdependence was significantly higher among older Japanese; and (d) older participants higher in interdependence were less likely to experience the association between greater age attributions and worse functional health. This study suggests the association is not inevitable when culture provides a countervailing force. {\textcopyright} The Author 2009",

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AU - Levy, Becca R.

AU - Ashman, Ori

AU - Slade, Martin D.

N1 - Publication details (e.g. title, author(s), publication statuses and dates) are captured on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis at the time of record harvesting from the data source. Suggestions for further amendments or supplementary information can be sent to [email protected].

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N2 - Older Americans often attribute health problems to old age, rather than to extenuating circumstances. Previous studies of Americans found that age attributions predict adverse health outcomes. We examined whether culture influences both the tendency to make age attributions and their effect on aging health. We found that (a) Japanese were significantly more likely to make age attributions than Americans; (b) age attributions were significantly associated with worse functional health among older Americans, but not older Japanese; (c) interdependence was significantly higher among older Japanese; and (d) older participants higher in interdependence were less likely to experience the association between greater age attributions and worse functional health. This study suggests the association is not inevitable when culture provides a countervailing force. © The Author 2009

AB - Older Americans often attribute health problems to old age, rather than to extenuating circumstances. Previous studies of Americans found that age attributions predict adverse health outcomes. We examined whether culture influences both the tendency to make age attributions and their effect on aging health. We found that (a) Japanese were significantly more likely to make age attributions than Americans; (b) age attributions were significantly associated with worse functional health among older Americans, but not older Japanese; (c) interdependence was significantly higher among older Japanese; and (d) older participants higher in interdependence were less likely to experience the association between greater age attributions and worse functional health. This study suggests the association is not inevitable when culture provides a countervailing force. © The Author 2009

KW - Aging

KW - Attribution

KW - Culture

KW - Health

KW - Japan

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/65349129019

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/65349129019#tab=impact

U2 - 10.1093/geronb/gbp002

DO - 10.1093/geronb/gbp002

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

C2 - 19339342

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VL - 64

SP - 335

EP - 338

JO - Journals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences

JF - Journals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences

IS - 3

ER -

Age attributions and aging health: Contrast between the United States and Japan

Abstract

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