The effects of life-stress, social support and health on formal medical utilization: a longitudinal study

This research explored the relationships between life stress, social support and health on health service use behavior for elderly individuals, 70 years and older. Data from the Longitudinal Study of Aging (N = 2590) were analyzed by using structural equation modeling (LISREL). The results revealed that initial life stresses (financial stress and physical stress) at Time 1 were indirectly related to formal medical service utilization through social support especially functional support (availability of support) and health status measured at Time 2 (perception of functional ability and actual illness level);Different dimensions of social support function differently, however, all of the quantitative support variables (instrumental support, quantity of interaction and geographic accessibility of support) were significantly related to financial stress. Among these social support variables, functional support was a strong predictor of health status at Time 2, and health status variables at Time 2 (perception of functional ability and actual illness level) were strong predictors of formal health service use;This study highlights the usefulness of longitudinal research and emphasizes the necessity of development of specific measures of social support as well as health status in the area of health service behavior for older adults. Most importantly, this study suggests that health behavior research for older individuals can focus on chronic life stress and its dynamic mechanism with social interactional contexts that combine to influence older persons\u27 later health status. Research limitations and future research were suggested