| Gerontological studies of utilization of health care have generally not been concerned with the effects of social psychological variables on morale and health care behavior. This study investigates the antecedent variables that influence persons to define themselves as "old" and the consequences of this old self-definition for morale and health behaviors. It is hypothesized that demographic variables and three dimensions of health, functional health, comparative health and self-perception of health, accumulate to "engulf" elders in an old age identity. Once this view of self as old is accepted, it is expected that informal care will increase and formal care will decrease.;The data used to test the Age Identification and Health Behavior Model is the National Survey of the Aged, 1975, which was originally collected by Ethel Shanas. The sample includes 2,143 persons age 65 or older. Regression analyses reveal that chronological age, race, widowhood, self-perception of health, health compared to others and functional health are significant predictors of an old age identity. However, defining self as old only has consequences for outlook on life not health behaviors.;Self-perception of health is found to be the most significant predictor of both informal and formal health care. The results of this research emphasizes the need to examine the concept of old age identity in more depth including the variation of meanings of "old" for older persons. The study further focuses attention on the self-perception of health of elders as being an important social psychological variable which demands the attention of health care providers. |
