SELF-REPORTED ANXIETY, GENERAL MEDICAL CONDITIONS, AND DISABILITY BEDDAYS

Objective: This study examined the effect of self-reported anxiety on the number of days persons with various general medical conditions spe nd in bed owing to disability. Method: Self reported medical illness a nd disability data from a nationally representative household survey s ample (N = 20,884) were analyzed. Results: Among respondents with gene ral medical conditions, chose with self-reported anxiety had a nearly fourfold greater length of disability (mean = 18.0 bed days) than the nonanxious respondents (mean = 4.8 bed days). After adjustment for dif ferences in demographic characteristics and burden of general medical illness, anxiety was associated with an additional 3.8 bed days. Concl usions: Self-reported anxiety in combination with general medical cond itions may be associated with extensive functional impairment.