Differences between rural (n = 18) and urban (n = 66) centenarians are examined across the following variables: physical health, activities of daily living, mental health, and life satisfaction. Results demonstrate higher levels of morale in rural residents and higher levels of functional health as exhibited by urban elders. Qualitative data support trends of increased degrees of independence among the rural participants. The absence of robust differences in rural and urban centenarians is discussed in terms of a leveling-off effect.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
RosenwaikeI., A Demographic Portrait of the Oldest-old, Milbank Memorial Fund Quarterly, 63:2, pp. 187–205, 1985.
2.
KwanJ. and BertrandA. L., Mortality and Longevity in Louisiana: The Relationship of Rural Residence to Survival After Age 65, Bulletin No. 607, Center for Agricultural Sciences and Rural Development, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 1978.
3.
ScheidtR., A Taxonomy of Well-Being for Small Town Elderly: A Case for Rural Diversity, The Gerontologist, 24:1, pp. 84–90, 1984.
4.
KroutJ. A., Rural Versus Urban Differences in Health Dependence Among the Elderly Population, The International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 28:2, pp. 141–156, 1989.
5.
ShapiroE. S. and RoosL. L., Using Health Care: Rural/Urban Differences Among the Manitoban Elderly, The Gerontologist, 24:3, pp. 270–274, 1984.
6.
SharpeT. R.SmithM. C., and BarbeA. R., Medicine Use Among the Rural Elderly, Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 26, pp. 113–117, 1985.
7.
DahlstenJ. and ShankP., Chronic and Acute Disease Problems in Rural Nursing Home Patients, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 27, pp. 112–116, 1979.
8.
GreeneS. B.SalbenE. J., and FeldmanJ. J., Distribution of Illness and Its Implications in a Rural Community, Medical Care, 16, pp. 863–877, 1978.
9.
HendricksJ. and TurnerH. B., Social Dimensions of Mental Illness Among Rural Elderly Populations, The International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 26:3, pp. 169–191, 1988.
10.
McCoyJ. L. and BrounD. L., Health Status Among Low Income Elderly Persons: Rural-Urban Differences, Social Security Bulletin, 41, pp. 14–26, 1978.
11.
BettsN. M. and RezekJ., Attitudes of Rural and Urban Elderly Concerning Supplement Use, Journal of Nutrition for the Elderly, 8:34, pp. 67–77, 1989.
12.
JohnsonJ. E., Health-Care Practices of the Rural Aged, Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 17:8, pp. 15–19, 1991.
13.
CarpinielloB.CartaM. G., and RudasN., Depression Among Elderly People: A Psychosocial Study of Urban and Rural Populations, Acta Psychiatra Scanda, 80, pp. 445–450, 1989.
14.
LeeG. R. and WhitbeckL. B., Residential Location and Social Relations Among Older Persons, Rural Sociology, 52:1, pp. 89–97, 1987.
15.
KorteA. O., Social Interaction and Morale of Spanish-Speaking Rural and Urban Elderly, Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 4:34, pp. 57–66, 1982.
16.
BlazerD.CrowellB. A.GeorgeL. K., and LandrumR., Urban-Rural Differences in Depressive Disorders: Does Age Make a Difference?, in Mental Disorders in the Community: Progress & Challenge, BarrettJ. (ed.), Guilford Press, New York, pp. 32–46, 1986.
17.
HynsonL. M., Rural-Urban Differences in Satisfaction Among the Elderly, Rural Sociology, 40:1, pp. 64–66, 1975.
18.
JirovecR. L.JirovecM. M., and BosseR., Environmental Determinants of Neighborhood Satisfaction Among Urban Elderly Men, The Gerontologist, 24:3, pp. 261–265, 1984.
19.
McGheeJ. L., The Influence of Qualitative Assessment of the Social and Physical Environment on the Morale of the Rural Elderly, American Journal of Community Psychology, 12:6, pp. 709–723, 1984.
20.
PoonL. W.ClaytonG. M.MartinP.JohnsonM. A.CourtenayB. C.SweaneyA. L.MerriamS. B.PlessB. S., and ThielmanS. B., The Georgia Centenarian Study, International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 34:1, pp. 1–17, 1992.
21.
LehrU. and Schmitz-ScherzerR., Psychosoziale Korrelate der Langlebigcheit, Acta Gerontologica, 4, pp. 261–268, 1974.
22.
PalmoreE. B., Normal Aging I: Reports from the Duke Longitudinal Study, 1955–1969, Duke University Press, Durham, North Carolina, 1970.
23.
PalmoreE. B., Normal Aging II, Duke University Press, Durham, North Carolina, 1974.
24.
RoseC. and BellB., Predicting Longevity, Health Lexington Books, Lexington, 1971.
25.
U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, America's Centenarians: Data from the 1990 Census, Current Population Report, 1992.
26.
NeugartenB.HavighurstR., and TobinS., The Measurement of Life Satisfaction, Journal of Gerontology, 16, pp. 134–154, 1961,.
27.
LawtonM. P., The Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale: A Revision, Journal of Gerontology, 30, pp. 85–89, 1975.
28.
CameronP., Mood as an Indicant of Happiness: Age, Sex, Social Class and Situational Differences, Journal of Gerontology, 30, pp. 216–224, 1975.
29.
GraneyM. J., Happiness and Social Participation in Old Age, The Gerontologist, 13, p. 84, 1975.
30.
PalmoreE. B.BusseE. W., and MaddowG. L. (eds.), Normal Aging III, Duke University Press: Durham, North Carolina, 1985.
31.
Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Multidimensional Functional Assessment: The OARS Methodology, Duke University Press, Durham, North Carolina, 1978.
32.
YesavageJ. A.BrinkT. L.RoseT. K.LumO.HuangV.AdeyM., and LeirerV. O., Development and Validation of a Geriatric Depression Screening Scale: A Preliminary Report, Journal of Psychiatric Research, 17:1, pp. 37–49, 1983.
33.
FolsteinM. F.FolsteinF. E., and McHughP. R., Mini-Mental State: A Practical Method for Grading Cognitive State of Patients for the Clinician, Journal of Psychiatric Research, 12, pp. 189–198, 1975.
34.
BradburnN. M., The Structure of Psychological Well-being, Aldine Press, Chicago, 1969.
35.
United States Bureau of the Census, 1980 Census of Population, Volume 1, Characteristics (PC 80-1-C1), U.S. Government Printing Office: Washington, D.C.
36.
KeithP. M. and NautaA., Old and Single in the City and in the Country: Activities of the Unmarried, in Families in Rural America, Marotz-BadenR.HennonC. B., and BrubakerT. H. (eds.), pp. 200–207, National Council on Family Relations, St. Paul, 1988.
37.
KivettV. R., Older Rural Fathers and Sons; Patterns of Association and Helping, in Families in Rural America, Marotz-BadenR.HennonC. B., and BrubakerT. H. (eds.), pp. 192–199, National Council on Family Relations, St. Paul, 1988.
38.
CowardR. T.CutlerS. J., and SchmidtF. E., Residential Differences in Marital Status and Household Type Among the Elderly, in Families in Rural America, Marotz-BadenR.HennonC. B., and BrubakerT. H. (eds.), pp. 104–115, 1988.
39.
BausellR., Health-Seeking Behavior Among the Elderly, Psychological Reports, 58:1, pp. 187–190, 1986.
40.
CowardR. T., Factors Associated with the Configuration of Helping Networks of Noninstitutionalized Elders, Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 10, 113–132, 1987.
