Complementary health approaches for health and wellness in midlife and older US adults. (July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Johnson, Pamela Jo; Jou, Judy; Rhee, Taeho Greg; Rockwood, Todd H.; Upchurch, Dawn M.
• Is Part Of: Maturitas. Volume 89(2016)
• Page Start: 36
• Page End: 42
• Publication Date: 2016-07
• Subjects: Aging -- Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) -- Health promotion -- Midlife -- Wellness -- Wellbeing; Climacteric -- Periodicals; Menopause -- Periodicals; Climacteric -- Periodicals; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; Menopause -- Periodicals; Middle Aged -- Periodicals; Climatère -- Périodiques; Ménopause -- Périodiques; Climacterium; Climacteric; Menopause; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 612.66
• DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2016.04.012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0378-5122

Abstract

Highlights: 52% of a large sample of US adults aged over 50 had ever used complementary health approaches. 31% had used complementary health approaches in the past year. 15% had used complementary health approaches for treatment only, 40% for wellness only, and 45% for both. Herbs (60%), chiropractic (28%), massage (22%), and yoga (19%) were the most commonly used complementary health approaches. Wellness-only and combined users had higher odds of reporting benefits of complementary health approaches. 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.