{"title":"Why Do Older Adults Disengage From Routine Medical Care? Psychological Distress, Wealth Stratification, and Health System Disengagement in Later Life.","authors":"Sunkanmi Folorunsho, Michael Ameyaw Somuah","doi":"10.1177/08982643261472013","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>ObjectiveMany older adults stop seeing a doctor despite having insurance and significant health needs. This study asks whether psychological distress predicts disengagement from care, beyond structural barriers.MethodUsing three waves of the Health and Retirement Study (<i>N</i> = 5,184 adults 65+), we model whether distress in one wave predicts no medical contact in the next, testing whether wealth weakens this link.ResultsOlder adults with more psychological distress were significantly more likely to disengage from care, even accounting for demographics, resources, and health needs. This link was stronger among those with less wealth, suggesting money helps buffer the effects of psychological strain. The pattern held even when looking at change within the same person over time.ConclusionPsychological distress independently predicts disengagement from care, and this effect is stronger among financially disadvantaged older adults. Mental health screening in primary care could help reduce disengagement in this group.</p>","PeriodicalId":51385,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Aging and Health","volume":" ","pages":"8982643261472013"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2000,"publicationDate":"2026-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Aging and Health","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1177/08982643261472013","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"GERONTOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
ObjectiveMany older adults stop seeing a doctor despite having insurance and significant health needs. This study asks whether psychological distress predicts disengagement from care, beyond structural barriers.MethodUsing three waves of the Health and Retirement Study (N = 5,184 adults 65+), we model whether distress in one wave predicts no medical contact in the next, testing whether wealth weakens this link.ResultsOlder adults with more psychological distress were significantly more likely to disengage from care, even accounting for demographics, resources, and health needs. This link was stronger among those with less wealth, suggesting money helps buffer the effects of psychological strain. The pattern held even when looking at change within the same person over time.ConclusionPsychological distress independently predicts disengagement from care, and this effect is stronger among financially disadvantaged older adults. Mental health screening in primary care could help reduce disengagement in this group.
期刊介绍：
The Journal of Aging and Health is an interdisciplinary forum for the presentation of research findings and scholarly exchange in the area of aging and health. Manuscripts are sought that deal with social and behavioral factors related to health and aging. Disciplines represented include the behavioral and social sciences, public health, epidemiology, demography, health services research, nursing, social work, medicine, and related disciplines. Although preference is given to manuscripts presenting the findings of original research, review and methodological pieces will also be considered.
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号
