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Stressors, psychological distress and health services utilization among an elderly population

Greig, Katherine Marie
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1057688968

Abstract Details

1994, Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, Social Welfare.
Although there have been a number of studies linking both stressors and psychological distress to the demand for health services, few studies have examined this relationship among the aged. This issue is important, however, partly because it has been suggested that psychological distress resulting from stressors might cause some individuals to seek unneeded medical care. The financial impact of the aged seeking unneeded care on Medicare is thus a matter of public concern. This study explores the relationship between stressors, psychological distress and health services utilization among a random sample (N = 490) of Medicare enrollees aged 65 and over in Cuyahoga County. More specifically, this study examines four hypotheses: (1) Higher levels of stressors will be associated with higher levels of utilization of health services when controlling for demographics, self assessed health and perceived socsupport (2) Higher levels of stressors will be associated with higher levels of psychological distress when controlling for demographics, self assessed health and perceived social support, and (3) Higher levels of psychological distress will be associated with a higher levels of utilization of health services when controlling for demographics, self assessed health and perceived social support. The findings indi cate that there is not a direct relationship between stressors and utilization of health services when controlling for demographics, self assessed health and perceived social support. However there is support for a direct relationship between stressors and psychological distress when controlling for demographics self assessed health and perceived social support. There is also support for a direct relationship between psychological distress and utilization of health services when controlling for demographics, self assessed health and perceived social support. Thus, the elderly experiencing life situations or changes with which they have difficulty coping become emotionally distressed. Elderly females are more likely than the males to become distressed from the life situations or changes. Also, those elderly experiencing higher levels of psychological distress, are more likely to use more health services than those experiencing lower levels of psychological distress.
Sharon Milligan (Advisor)
131 p.
Stressors; psychological distress; health services utilization; elderly; population

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Greig, K. M. (1994). Stressors, psychological distress and health services utilization among an elderly population [Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1057688968

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Greig, Katherine. Stressors, psychological distress and health services utilization among an elderly population. 1994. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1057688968.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Greig, Katherine. "Stressors, psychological distress and health services utilization among an elderly population." Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 1994. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1057688968

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

case1057688968
594
© 1994, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies and OhioLINK.