Psychobiological indicators of the subjectively experienced health status - findings from the Women 40+ Healthy Aging Study

Abstract

Background Healthy aging is particularly important in women, as their life-span is generally longer than men’s, leaving women at higher risk for age-related diseases. Understanding determinants of women’s healthy aging is therefore a major public health interest. Clinical utility of previous research is limited, through its focus on either single psychosocial or biological predictors. The present study investigated psychobiological predictors of women’s healthy aging, for the first time including positive psychological traits and biomarkers of healthy aging. Methods Totally, 121 generally healthy women aged 40 to 75 were investigated cross-sectionally. Healthy aging was operationalized via self-rated health (SRH). To gain a nuanced view of the particularities at the upper end of the illness-wellness continuum, women with excellent SRH and those with good SRH were analyzed as distinct groups. Socioeconomic and sociodemographic variables, health behavior, resilience, optimism, and self-worth as well as menopausal symptoms, and levels of steroid hormones and gonadotropins were considered as predictors of SRH. Binary logistic regression analyses using the forward conditional method were performed with the two health status groups as dependent variable. Results Women with a lower body mass index (BMI; OR = .59, 95% CI = .33–1.03), higher intensive physical activity (OR = 2.27, 95% CI = 1.06–4.86), and higher resilience (OR = 2.37, 95% CI = 1.34–4.18) were more likely to rate their health as excellent compared to good. No clinically significant differences could be found regarding endocrine levels. Conclusion Psychobiological indicators (lower BMI, intensive physical activity, higher resilience) discriminated SRH at the top level of the health spectrum. In healthy women, the predictive value of endocrine markers seems to be secondary. Interventions targeting these indicators could promote women’s healthy aging.

Differential ESR1 Promoter Methylation in the Peripheral Blood—Findings from the Women 40+ Healthy Aging Study

“…Women aged 40-75 years were recruited in the context of the Women 40+ Healthy Aging Study, a larger cross-sectional investigation including healthy middle-aged and older women [72][73][74]. To be included in the study, women had to report good, very good, or excellent health.…”

Sociodemographic, Anthropometric, Body Composition, Nutritional, and Biochemical Factors Influenced by Age in a Postmenopausal Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Healthy aging is particularly important in women, as their lifespan is generally longer than that of men, leaving women at higher risk for age-related diseases [ 47 ]. Our findings may contribute to the understanding of processes of womens’ healthy aging and the development of interventions targeting these indicators, which could have significant relevance for public health.…”

Female Intrasexual Competition and Its Link to Menopausal Stage, Sex Hormone Levels, and Personality Characteristics

“…Participants were recruited via flyers, Facebook, articles in health-related online portals, newsletters, and mailing lists. Women were included in the study if they reported to have at least good self-rated health ( 16 ) and fulfilled the defined inclusion criteria. These criteria were assessed first in an online self-screening and additionally confirmed by a trained study member in a telephone screening.…”