Complementary health approaches for health and wellness in midlife and older US adults

Pamela Jo Johnson; Judy Jou; Taeho Greg Rhee; Todd H Rockwood; Dawn M Upchurch

doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2016.04.012

Complementary health approaches for health and wellness in midlife and older US adults

Maturitas. 2016 Jul:89:36-42. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2016.04.012. Epub 2016 Apr 20.

Authors

Pamela Jo Johnson¹, Judy Jou², Taeho Greg Rhee³, Todd H Rockwood⁴, Dawn M Upchurch⁵

Affiliations

¹ Center for Spirituality & Healing, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St. SE, MMC-505, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States; Division of Health Policy & Management, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St. SE, MMC-729, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States. Electronic address: johns245@umn.edu.
² Center for Spirituality & Healing, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St. SE, MMC-505, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States; Division of Health Policy & Management, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St. SE, MMC-729, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States.
³ Center for Spirituality & Healing, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St. SE, MMC-505, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States; Department of Pharmaceutical Care and Health Systems, College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, 7-168 Weaver-Densford Hall, 308 Harvard Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States.
⁴ Division of Health Policy & Management, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St. SE, MMC-729, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States.
⁵ Department of Community Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, UCLA, 650 Charles Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States.

PMID: 27180158
DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2016.04.012

Abstract

Objectives: To characterize the use of complementary health approaches (CHA) and examine the perceived benefits of using CHA by reason for use among midlife and older adults.

Study design: Analysis of 2012 National Health Interview Survey data, a nationally representative US sample using cross-tabulations with design-based F-tests and multiple logistic regression. The analytic sample included adults aged over 50 years (N=14,849).

Main outcome measures: The proposed benefits of using CHA included: (1) better control over health, (2) reduced stress/relaxation, (3) better sleep, (4) feeling better emotionally, (5) coping with health problems, (6) improved health/feeling better, and (7) improved relationships.

Results: Overall, 31% of this sample of midlife and older US adults had used CHA in the past year. Among users, 15% had used CHA for treatment only, 40% for wellness only, and 45% for combined wellness and treatment. Herbs (60%), chiropractic (28%), massage (22%), and yoga (19%) were the most common CHA. Wellness-only and combined users had significantly higher odds of reporting that CHA conferred benefit compared with treatment-only users.

Conclusions: CHA are used by nearly a third of midlife and older adults and are perceived to provide substantial benefit. Integrating CHA as part of a healthy lifestyle has the potential to contribute to healthy aging among midlife and older adults.

Keywords: Aging; Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM); Health promotion; Midlife; Wellbeing; Wellness.

MeSH terms

Adaptation, Psychological
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Complementary Therapies / statistics & numerical data*
Emotions
Female
Health Surveys
Humans
Logistic Models
Male
Middle Aged
Sleep
Stress, Psychological / prevention & control
United States