Self-Reported Medication Adherence and Health Status in Late Adulthood: The Role of Beliefs

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Abstract
In this study, we explore the role of subjective beliefs in determining self-reports of medication adherence and health status in 90 older adults (M age = 71.7 years, SD= 7.44). Self-reported adherence was predicted by personal health locus of control beliefs, but not by medical factors nor beliefs regarding one's own health care professionals. Self-reported health was predicted by medical factors, perceptions of one's health care professional, and health locus of control. These results suggest that self reported adherence is primarily a belief-laden construct whereas self reported health consists of both an objective assessment of health and a subjective belief-laden component. Exploratory analyses conducted on younger-old and older-old age groups indicated that medical factors may be less important to older-old adults perceived health status than the younger-old adults.