A number of demographic, social, psychological, lifestyle, and health characteristics have been advanced as precursors of functional limitation among those who survive to old age. This study uses data from a 16-year longitudinal study to examine long-range antecedents of the respondents' level of physical functional capability in 1991. The model predicting functional capability from longitudinal data is more complex and more effective for women than for men. Older age, lower self-rated health, lower functional capability, and lower physical activity level in 1975 predict 35% of the variation in functional capability among women in 1991. Only older age and lower self-rated health are predictive for men and account for just 11% of the variation. These findings suggest a need for gender-specific models of antecedents of physical functional limitations in later life.
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