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Cited by 8,598Health disparities and outcomesAging, Health, and DisabilityHealth and Medical Studies

Self-rated health and mortality: a review of twenty-seven community studies.

Idler, Ellen L., Benyamini, Yael·1997·Journal of Health and Social Behavior
DOI 10.2307/2955359
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Abstract

We examine the growing number of studies of survey respondents' global self-ratings of health as predictors of mortality in longitudinal studies of representative community samples. Twenty-seven studies in U.S. and international journals show impressively consistent findings. Global self-rated health is an independent predictor of mortality in nearly all of the studies, despite the inclusion of numerous specific health status indicators and other relevant covariates known to predict mortality. We summarize and review these studies, consider various interpretations which could account for the association, and suggest several approaches to the next stage of research in this field.

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Crossref · 10.2307/2955359

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  • Of the 33 highest quality studies, six (18%) found worse functioning among those who were more R/S.

    “Considering the 33 highest quality studies, 13 (39%) reported significantly better physical functioning among those who were more R/S (including one study at a trend level) [483–495], six (18%) found worse functioning [496–501], and five studies (15%) reported mixed results [82, 124, 502–504] (significant positive and negative associations, depending on R/S characteristic).”

    From Religion, Spirituality, and Health: The Research and Clinical Implications (2012) · cites this paper as [497]

  • Between Black and White individuals, age-adjusted death rates narrowed from 1993 to 2015, but the gap began widening after 2016.

    “Age-adjusted death rates by race and ethnicity between Black individuals and White individuals narrowed from 1993 to 2015, but since 2016 the gap began widening.”

    From Trends in Differences in Health Status and Health Care Access and Affordability by Race and Ethnicity in the United States, 1999–2018 (2021) · cites this paper as [7]

  • Self-assessed health is a well-established index of morbidity and predictor of mortality.

    “Self-assessed health is a well-established index of morbidity and predictor of mortality.”

    From Education improves public health and promotes health equity (2015) · cites this paper as [33]

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Authors
Idler, E. L., & Benyamini, Y.
Affiliations
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US)
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Health and Social Behavior
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
1997-03
Volume
38
Issue
1
Pages
21
ISSN
0022-1465 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.2307/2955359
OpenAlex
W1996823741
Cited by
8,598
References
101
Citations by year
2026: 232 · 2025: 223 · 2024: 267 · 2023: 281 · 2022: 333 · 2021: 395 · 2020: 460 · 2019: 390 · 2018: 372 · 2017: 400 · 2016: 417 · 2015: 434 · 2014: 429 · 2013: 421 · 2012: 430
FWCI
67.61
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Health and Social Behavior (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5r01ag011567-03)
  • National Institute on Aging (AG11567, AG03501)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Aging, Health, and Disability
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health and Medical Studies
Keywords
self-rated health, mortality, health indicators, community sample, longitudinal study, health behavior, mortality prediction
MeSH terms
Attitude to Health, Female, Health Status, Health Status Indicators, Humans, Male, Mortality, United States, Survival Analysis

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