growing segment of the American population, the elderly
are requiring more and improved services from the public and private sectors. The U.S.
Census Bureau estimates one in every eight Americans is over 65, a statistic expected to
jump to one in five as the Baby Boomers join the ranks of the elderly. With the graying of
America comes a myriad of social, health and economic issues to be considered.A new
study from a University of Kentucky researcher will help service and health officials
determine the needs of the elderly based on their race and residence.
Through research conducted over the last year, B. Jan McCulloch, an associate
professor with the UK Department of Family Studies and the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging,
has found that race and residence play a significant part in determining a person’s
state of hardiness – or psychological strength. The effect of hardiness on both
mental and physical health is becoming more recognized and respected as physicians and
public policy makers see increasing levels of failing health and depression among the
American elderly.
"The findings from our study will help us modify services to aid elders with
health problems, economic troubles and more," McCulloch said. "We often
underestimate the power of the mind, and outlook on life, over our bodies and our
health."
The results of McCulloch’s study, funded by the National Institutes of Mental
Health, found the most hardy people – white females – lived in suburban city
areas. Ironically, the least hardy – African-American men – lived in the same
area. Women generally were found to be more hardy than men, but no statistical difference
across gender lines was noted, McCulloch said. The telephone survey polled 389 elderly
Kentuckians – 139 African-American and 250 white. Items questioned elders about
things such as satisfaction of income, health, services and quality of life.
"Older rural people are often thought of as stoic, legendary, romantic figures who
can withstand all – something based on the idea of early pioneers and farmers,"
McCulloch said. "Our study shows they, and the elderly in general, are more in need
of our help than many people believe. With an increasing population of older Americans, it
is important we pay attention to their needs, especially their mental health needs, to
maintain and improve their lives. If we can help people see the positive side of things
and become more hardy, we can impact their health, reduce health care costs, aid with
economics and maybe more."
Although the survey did not collect reasons for the levels of hardiness discovered,
McCulloch said her previous research and writing on elderly health suggests the factors
may lie in access to health resources, family and public support systems and economics,
among others.
McCulloch said she hopes to use her findings to gain more funding to further research
the appropriate levels of and residential influences on hardiness, as well as to improve
scales and models used by scholars and mental health practitioners to determine hardiness.
"If we are going to help elders, we have to have a better handle on hardiness and
how to improve or maintain it as people age," she said.
