Relationship Among Physical Impairment, Distress, and Well-Being in Older Adults

Examined the relationship between activity limitation & self-report on a variety of mental health measures using 124 noninstitutionalized older adults. Ss were recruited either as recently disabled or as a matched control. Results show the relationship to be highly significant & stable across time. Older Ss classified as severely disabled experienced higher levels of anxiety, suicidal ideation & overall distress. Data suggest reciprocal causal relationships between health and mental health.