The Moderating Effect of Age on Self-Care

This study examined the moderating effect of age on the relations between symptom severity, self-care and others' care, patients' perception of the extent of problem solution, their satisfaction with the solution, and their perception of control over their health. Participating in the study were 121 female and 167 male chronically ill patients. Results indicated that age did play a major role in the relations between self-care and others' care and self-care outcomes. The young population sought maximum relief of symptoms with minimum effort from the self. The elderly, in contrast, could be said to maximize control because what was important for them was not to depend on others but to be self-sufficient in solving their health problems.