Comparison of Self-Rated Health in Korean and American Older Adults in Two Cross-Sectional Studies

As medical technology evolves and interest in healthcare continues to grow, new methodologies for measuring health are required. Self-rated health is an important predictive measure for later health and well-being outcomes. Hence, this study examined the comparative self-rated health status in Korean and American older adults as well as the factors influencing health status in both populations by analyzing Korean Health Panel Survey and U.S. Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System data for the year 2020 in reference to the medical and demographic subject characteristics described in Andersen’s behavioral model. We conducted intercountry comparisons by performing frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, and multiple regression analysis. Predisposing factors were defined as traits that an individual already had regardless of their will. Enabling factors referred to the means and capabilities for health behaviors and health outcomes. Need factors referred to the subjective and objective health-related characteristics of an individual. In this intercountry comparison of self-rated health, we found that the common influencing factors were enabling factors (education level and income) and a need factor (anxiety). The differing influencing factors included predisposing factors (age and household type) in the Korean study population and a need factor (smoking rate) in the U.S. study population. Our results highlight the need for developing comprehensive community-based and personalized care programs to improve self-rated health in older adults. Given that need factors are controllable, in contrast to enabling and predisposing factors, we propose expanding anxiety control programs as well as promoting campaigns to raise public awareness regarding the harms of smoking.