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Age Differences in Lay Conceptions of Health and Self-Care Responses to Illness

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Alexander Segall
Alexander Segall
Affiliation:
University of Manitoba
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Abstract

This paper explores lay health care beliefs and practices. More specifically, the research tests the hypothesis that traditional “popular” health beliefs and self care practices are most likely to be found among older persons. Data were obtained through personal interviews with a randomly selected cross-sectional sample of 524 residents of Winnipeg, Canada. Statistical analysis was intended to assess the relationship between age and lay health care beliefs and practices, and to evaluate the relative explanatory power of age compared to other sociodemographic factors; self-reported health status; and medical care contact. The results suggest that the relationship between age and lay conceptions of health and self-care responses to illness is a rather complex one. Furthermore, respondents' age alone explained little of the variance in any of the dependent measures. Finally, this study revealed that although lay self-care beliefs and behaviour exist, they are not limited to older persons.

Résumé

Cet article examine les pratiques et croyances détenues par les profanes au niveau des soins de santé. Plus particulièrement, cette étude teste l'hypothèse qui prétend que les croyances “populaires” et les pratiques de soins individuels traditionnelles sont plus répandues chez les personnes âgées. Les données proviennent d'entretiens personnels menés auprès d'un échantillon prélevé au hasard et comportant un total de 524 résidents de la ville de Winnipeg au Canada. Le but de l'analyse de statistique était d'évaluer le lien entre l'âge et les diverses pratiques et croyaqnces populaires au chapitre des soins de la santé. Un second objectif était d'examiner l'importance relative de l'âge en comparaison avec d'autres facteurs socio-démographiques; une évaluation personnelle sur la condition de santé; et le rapport avec le monde de la médecine. Les résultats indiquent que la relation entre l'âge, les concepts sur la santé, et les traitements personnels administrés en cas de maladie s'avère plutôt complexe. De plus, l'âge propre des participants explique pauvrement les différences qui existent entre les mesures tributaires. Finalement, l'étude révèle que les croyances et les pratiques au niveau des soins de santé personnels n'existent pas uniquement chez les individus d'âge mûr.

Keywords

agehealthself-care
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 6 , Issue 1 , Spring/printemps 1987 , pp. 47 - 65
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1987

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