CONTROL OVER FUTURE HEALTH IN OLD-AGE - CHARACTERISTICS OF BELIEVERS AND SKEPTICS

In a cross-sectional study of a total population aged 70 years and ove r in a rural New Zealand township (sample size 682) we investigated fa ctors which characterize those who felt they had a great deal of contr ol and those who felt they had little or no control over future health . In a significant logistic regression model those with a feeling of a great deal of control over future health had a lower prevalence of ch ronic obstructive lung disease, higher prevalence of diabetes, took le ss alcohol, were more likely to be satisfied with bowel function, had a lower protein intake, were more likely to participate in strenuous t o moderate activity and were less likely to have features of depressio n. Different perceptions of control were associated with significant d ifferences in health practices and health status.