Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to identify health and well-being typologies among a sample of older European adults.
Further, we examined various demographic, social, and health behaviour characteristics that were used to discriminate between
such groups. The participants were 1,381 community-dwelling adults aged 65 years and above (M age = 73.65; SD = 7.77) from six European Union (EU) countries who completed self-reported questionnaires. Hierarchical cluster
analysis was initially conducted followed by a k means analysis to confirm cluster membership. Four clusters were identified and validated: ‘good health and moderate functioning’
(38.40%), ‘moderate health and functioning’ (30.84%), ‘obese and depressed’ (20.24%) and ‘low health and functioning’ (10.51%).
The groups could be discriminated based on age, gender, nationality, years of education, social isolation and health behaviours
(alcohol consumption and walking behaviour). The results of the study demonstrate heterogeneity with regard to the relationships
between the variables examined. The information can be used in targeting older Europeans for health promotion interventions.
Further, we examined various demographic, social, and health behaviour characteristics that were used to discriminate between
such groups. The participants were 1,381 community-dwelling adults aged 65 years and above (M age = 73.65; SD = 7.77) from six European Union (EU) countries who completed self-reported questionnaires. Hierarchical cluster
analysis was initially conducted followed by a k means analysis to confirm cluster membership. Four clusters were identified and validated: ‘good health and moderate functioning’
(38.40%), ‘moderate health and functioning’ (30.84%), ‘obese and depressed’ (20.24%) and ‘low health and functioning’ (10.51%).
The groups could be discriminated based on age, gender, nationality, years of education, social isolation and health behaviours
(alcohol consumption and walking behaviour). The results of the study demonstrate heterogeneity with regard to the relationships
between the variables examined. The information can be used in targeting older Europeans for health promotion interventions.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s10433-011-0186-4
- Authors
- Cecilie Thøgersen-Ntoumani, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT UK
- Vassilis Barkoukis, Department of Physical Education and Sports Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54006 Thessaloniki, Greece
- Caterina Grano, Department of Psychology, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Fabio Lucidi, Department of Psychology, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Magnus Lindwall, Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
- Jarmo Liukkonen, Department of Sports Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
- Lennart Raudsepp, Institute of Sport Pedagogy and Coaching Science, Estonian Centre of Behavioral and Health Sciences, University of Tartu, 51014 Tartu, Estonia
- William Young, School of Psychology, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, BT7 1NN Northern Ireland, UK
- Journal European Journal of Ageing
- Online ISSN 1613-9380
- Print ISSN 1613-9372