Self-reported medication adherence and health status in late adulthood: The role of beliefs

In this study, we explore the role of subjective beliefs in determining sel f-reports of medication adherence and health status in 90 older adults (M a ge = 71.7 years, SD = 7.44). Self-reported adherence was predicted by perso nal health locus of control beliefs, but not by medical factors nor beliefs regarding one's own health care professionals. Self-reported health was pr edicted by medical factors, perceptions of one's health care professional, and health locus of control. These results suggest that self-reported adher ence is primarily a belief-laden construct whereas self-reported ted health consists of both an objective assessment of health and a subjective belief -laden component. Exploratory analyses conducted on younger-old and older-o ld age groups indicated that medical factors may be less important to older -old adults' perceived health status than the younger-old adults.