Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Health and well-being profiles of older European adults

  • Original Investigation
  • Published:
European Journal of Ageing Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to identify health and well-being typologies among a sample of older European adults. Further, we examined various demographic, social, and health behaviour characteristics that were used to discriminate between such groups. The participants were 1,381 community-dwelling adults aged 65 years and above (M age = 73.65; SD = 7.77) from six European Union (EU) countries who completed self-reported questionnaires. Hierarchical cluster analysis was initially conducted followed by a k means analysis to confirm cluster membership. Four clusters were identified and validated: ‘good health and moderate functioning’ (38.40%), ‘moderate health and functioning’ (30.84%), ‘obese and depressed’ (20.24%) and ‘low health and functioning’ (10.51%). The groups could be discriminated based on age, gender, nationality, years of education, social isolation and health behaviours (alcohol consumption and walking behaviour). The results of the study demonstrate heterogeneity with regard to the relationships between the variables examined. The information can be used in targeting older Europeans for health promotion interventions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aldenderfer MS, Blashfield RK (1984) Cluster analysis. Sage Publications, Beverly Hills, CA

    Google Scholar 

  • Balfour JL, Kaplan GA (2002) Neighborhood environment and loss of physical function in older adults: evidence from the Alameda County study. Am J Epidemiol 155:507–515

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beekman ATF, Deeg DJH, van Limbeek J, Braam AW, de Vries MZ, van Tilburg W (1997) Criterion validity of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D): results from a community-based sample of older adults in the Netherlands. Psychol Med 27:231–235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berkman LF (1995) The role of social relations in health promotion. Psychosom Med 57:245–254

    Google Scholar 

  • Borglin G, Jakobsson U, Edberg A-K, Rahm Hallberg I (2006) Older people in Sweden with various degrees of present quality of life: their health, social support, everyday activities and sense of coherence. Health Soc Care Community 14:136–146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Börsch-Supan A, Brugiavini A, Jürges H, Machenbach J, Siegrist J, Weber G (2005a) Health, ageing and retirement in Europe: first results from the survey of health, ageing and retirement in Europe. Mannheim Research Institute for the Economics of Ageing, Mannheim

    Google Scholar 

  • Börsch-Supan A, Hank K, Jürges H (2005b) A new comprehensive and international view on ageing: introducing the survey of health, ageing and retirement in Europe. Eur J Ageing 2:245–253

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowling A (1995) What things are important in people’s lives? A survey of the public’s judgements to inform scales of health related quality of life. Soc Sci Med 41:1447–1462

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Byrne BM (1996) Measuring self-concept across the life span: issues and instrumentation. American Psychological Association, Washington, DC

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Chou KL (2007) Reciprocal relationship between pain and depression in older adults: evidence from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. J Affect Disord 102:115–123

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chou KL (2008) The prevalence and clustering of four major lifestyle risk factors in Hong Kong Chinese older adults. J Aging Health 20:788–803

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Conn VS, Taylor SG, Hayes V (1992) Social support, self-esteem, and self-care after myocardial infarction. Health Value 16:25–31

    Google Scholar 

  • Craig CL, Marshall AL, Sjostrom M, Bauman AE, Booth ML, Ainsworth BE, Pratt M, Ekelund U, Yngve A, Sallis JF, Pekka O (2003) International physical activity questionnaire: 12-country reliability and validity. Med Sci Sports Exerc 35:1381–1395

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Leo D, Diekstra RF, Lonnqvist J, Cleiren HPD, Frisoni GB, Dello Buono M, Haltunen A, Zucchetto M, Rozzini R, Grigoletto F, Sampaio-Faria J (1998) LEIPAD, an internationally applicable instrument to assess quality of life in the elderly. Behav Med 24:17–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deng HB, MacFarlane DJ, Thomas GN, Lao XQ, Jiang CQ, Cheng KK, Lam TH (2008) Reliability and validity of the IPAQ-Chinese: the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study. Med Sci Sports Exerc 40:303–307

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diehl M, Hastings CT, Stanton JM (2001) Self-concept differentiation across the adult life span. Psychol Aging 16:643–654

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener E, Emmons RA, Larsen RJ, Griffin S (1985) The satisfaction with life scale. J Pers Assess 49:71–75

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fontaine KR, Barofsky I (2001) Obesity and health-related quality of life. Obes Rev 2:173–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Friedman JM, Elasy T, Jensen GL (2001) The relationship between body mass index and self-reported functional limitation among older adults: a gender difference. J Am Geriatr Soc 49:398–403

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • García EL, Banegas JR, Pérez-Regadera AG, Herruzo Cabrera R, Rodriquez-Artalejo F (2005) Social network and health-related quality of life in older adults: a population-based study in Spain. Qual Life Res 14:511–520

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gayman MD, Turner RJ, Cui M (2008) Physical limitations and depressive symptoms: exploring the nature of the association. J Gerontol Soc Sci 63B:S219–S228

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerstorf D, Smith J, Baltes PB (2006) A systemic-wholistic approach to differential aging: longitudinal findings from the Berlin Aging Study. Psychol Aging 21:645–663

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hair JF, Anderson RE, Tatham RL, Black WC (1998) Multivariate data analysis, 5th edn. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ

    Google Scholar 

  • Haveman-Nies A, de Groot L, van Staveren WA (2003) Relation of dietary quality, physical activity, and smoking habits to 10-year changes in health status in older Europeans in the SENECA study. Am J Public Health 93:318–323

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heslin JM, Soveri PJ, Winoy JB, Lyons RA, Buttanshaw AC, Kovacic L, Daley JA, Gonzalo E (2001) Health status and service utilisation of older people in different European countries. Scand J Prim Health 19:218–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Italian National Institute of Statistics (2001) Data available from http://dawinci.istat.it/MD/

  • Kolbe-Alexander TL, Lambert EV, Harkins JB, Ekelund U (2006) Comparison of two methods of measuring physical activity in South African older adults. J Aging Phys Act 14:98–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Koster A, Bosma H, Kempen GIJM, Penninx BWJH, Beekman ATF, Deeg DJH, van Eijk JTM (2006) Socioeconomic differences in incident depression in older adults: the role of psychosocial factors, physical health status, and behavioral factors. J Psychosom Res 61:619–627

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lang I, Wallace RB, Huppert FA, Melzer D (2007) Moderate alcohol consumption in older adults is associated with better cognition and well-being than abstinence. Age Ageing 36:256–261

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marsh HW (1996) Positive and negative global self-esteem: a substantively meaningful distinction or artifactors? J Pers Soc Psychol 70:810–819

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McAuley E, Elavsky S, Motl RW, Konopack JF, Hu L, Marquez DX (2005) Physical activity, self-efficacy, and self-esteem: longitudinal relationships in older adults. J Gerontol Psychol Sci 60B:P268–P275

    Google Scholar 

  • Minicuci N, Maggi S, Pavan M, Enzi G, Crepaldi G (2002) Prevalence rate and correlates of depressive symptoms in older individuals: the Veneto study. J Gerontol Med Sci 57A:M155–M161

    Google Scholar 

  • Mroczek DK, Spiro A (2005) Change in life satisfaction during adulthood: findings from the Veterans Affairs Normative Aging Study. J Pers Soc Psychol 88:189–202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murrell SA, Meeks S, Walker J (1991) Protective functions of health and self-esteem against depression in older adults facing illness or bereavement. Psychol Aging 5:352–360

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nagi SZ (1976) An epidemiology of disability among adults in the United States. Milbank Meml Fund Q Health Soc 54:439–467

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Penninx BWJH, Guralnik JM, Ferrucci L, Simonsick EM, Deeg DJH, Wallace RB (1998) Depressive symptoms and physical decline in community-dwelling older persons. JAMA 279:1720–1726

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pinquart M (2001) Correlates of subjective health in older adults: a meta-analysis. Psychol Aging 16:414–426

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Põlluste K, Kalda R, Lember M (2009) Accessibility and use of health services among older Estonian population. Cent Eur J Public Health 17:64–70

    Google Scholar 

  • Radloff LS (1977) The CES-D scale. Appl Psychol Meas 1:385–401

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg M (1979) Conceiving the self. Basic Books, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Seeman TE, Syme SL (1987) Social networks and coronary heart disease: a comparison of the structure and function of social relations as predictors of disease. Psychosom Med 49:341–354

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith J, Baltes PB (1997) Profiles of psychological functioning in the old and oldest old. Psychol Aging 12:458–472

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith J, Baltes MM (1998) The role of gender in very old age: profiles of functioning and everyday life patterns. Psychol Aging 13:676–695

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smits MW, Kee CC (1992) Correlates of self-care among the independent elderly: self-concept affects well-being. J Gerontol Nurs 18:13–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Statistics Finland (2009) Data available from: http://www.tilastokeskus.fi/org/index_en.html

  • Strawbridge WJ, Cohen RD, Shema SJ, Kaplan GA (1996) Successful aging: predictors and associated activities. Am J Epidemiol 144:135–141

    Google Scholar 

  • Thøgersen-Ntoumani C, Ntoumanis N, Nikitaras N (2008) Typologies of Greek inactive older adults based on reasons for abstaining from exercise and conditions for change. J Sport Sci 26:1341–1350

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turner Goins R, Spencer SM, Krummel DA (2003) Effect of obesity on health-related quality of life among Appalachian elderly. Southern Med J 96:552–557

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van den Brink CL, Vanden Bos GAM, Tijhuis M, Äijänseppä S, Nissinen A, Giampaoli S, Kromhout D (2006) Hierarchy levels, sum score, and worsening of disability are related to depressive symptoms in elderly men from three European countries. J Aging Health 18:125–141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Victor CR, Scambler SJ, Bowling A, Bond J (2005) The prevalence of, and risk factors for, loneliness in later life: a survey of older people in Great Britain. Ageing Soc 25:357–375

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weiss MR, Ebbeck V, Horn TS (1997) Children’s self-perceptions and sources of physical competence information: a cluster analysis. J Sport Exerc Psychol 19:52–70

    Google Scholar 

  • Yan LL, Daviglus ML, Liu K, Pirzada A, Garside DB, Schiffer L, Dyer AR, Greenland P (2004) BMI and health-related quality of life in adults 65 years and older. Obes Res 12:69–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yusef S, Hawken S, Ounpuu S, Dans T, Avezum A, Lanas F, McQueen M, Budaj A, Pais P, Varigos J, Lisheng L, and on behalf of the INTERHEART Study Investigators (2004) Effect of potentially modifiable risk factors associated with myocardial infarction in 52 countries (the INTERHEART study): case–control study. Lancet 364:937–952

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimmer Z, House JS (2003) Education, income, and functional limitation transitions among American adults: contrasting onset and progression. Int J Epidemiol 32:1089–1097

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zunzunegui MV, Minicuci N, Blumstein T, Noale M, Deeg D, Jylhä M, Pedersen ML, and for the CLESA Working Group (2007). Gender differences in depressive symptoms among older adults: a cross-national comparison. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 42:198–207

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK

    Cecilie Thøgersen-Ntoumani

  2. Department of Physical Education and Sports Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54006, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Vassilis Barkoukis

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185, Rome, Italy

    Caterina Grano & Fabio Lucidi

  4. Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg, 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden

    Magnus Lindwall

  5. Department of Sports Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland

    Jarmo Liukkonen

  6. Institute of Sport Pedagogy and Coaching Science, Estonian Centre of Behavioral and Health Sciences, University of Tartu, 51014, Tartu, Estonia

    Lennart Raudsepp

  7. School of Psychology, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, BT7 1NN, Northern Ireland, UK

    William Young

Authors
  1. Cecilie Thøgersen-Ntoumani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Vassilis Barkoukis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Caterina Grano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Fabio Lucidi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Magnus Lindwall
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jarmo Liukkonen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Lennart Raudsepp
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. William Young
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cecilie Thøgersen-Ntoumani.

Additional information

Responsible editor: D.J.H. Deeg

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Thøgersen-Ntoumani, C., Barkoukis, V., Grano, C. et al. Health and well-being profiles of older European adults. Eur J Ageing 8, 75–85 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-011-0186-4

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-011-0186-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation