A COMPARISON OF HEALTH-STATUS BETWEEN RURAL AND URBAN ADULTS

The objective of the study was to examine and compare health status be tween rural and urban adults. The data are from a 1993 statewide proba bility-based telephone survey of adult Kentuckians (n=662). Metropolit an Statistical Area (MSA) residents (n=264) and nonMSA residents (n=39 8) were compared using the Medical Outcomes Study, Short Form Health S urvey (SF-20). Self-perceived urban (n=406) and rural (n=256) resident s were also compared. Additional analyses were stratified by the age c ategories of 18-44, 45-64, and greater than or equal to 65 years of ag e. Few differences in health status existed between rural and urban ad ults. However, rural elders (greater than or equal to 65 years) had si gnificantly poorer health status than urban elders. After controlling for demographic variables in multiple regressions, rural elders had si gnificantly poorer functioning (all p<.05) than urban elders as measur ed by the SF-20 subscales of a) physical functioning, b) role function ing, c) social functioning, d) general mental health, and e) general h ealth perceptions. No differences between rural and urban residents we re noted for the pain subscale. Although the health status of rural an d urban adults is generally similar, the rural elderly have significan tly worse health status than their urban counterparts.