The Longitudinal Associations between Physical Health and Mental Health among Older Adults

Objectives: This study examines the lead-lag relationship between physical and mental health among older adults.

Method: Data are collected from 16,417 older adults aged 50 years and older participating in the biannual Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Participants were assessed on up to 11 measurement points over a 21-year period from 1994 to 2014. Physical health was measured as a composite of chronic diseases, functional limitations, and difficulties in basic and instrumental activities of daily living. Mental health was measured with the modified CES-D. Bivariate latent change score models (BLCSM) were estimated.

Results: Both physical and mental health declined in the observed years, with slower declining rates over time. A reciprocal relationship emerged, with the prior level of physical health acting as the leading indicator of subsequent change in mental health, and the prior mental health state acting as the leading indicator of subsequent changes in physical health. Additionally, the influence of physical health on mental health changes was larger than the corresponding effect of mental health on subsequent physical health.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates the reciprocal relationship between physical and mental health in later adulthood and highlights the need to pay attention to the mental health of older people with physical health problems.