Advanced Search

Journal Navigation

Journal Home

Subscriptions

Archive

Contact Us

Table of Contents

Click here for more information

Click here to sign up for SAGE Journal Email Alerts today!

Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.
Journal of Applied Gerontology
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow References
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Saved Citations
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Request Reprints
Right arrow Add to My Marked Citations
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Right arrow Citing Articles via Scopus
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by McMahan, S.
Right arrow Articles by Lutz, R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati  
What's this?

Alternative Therapy Use Among the Young-Old (Ages 65 to 74): An Evaluation of the MIDUS Database

Shari McMahan

California State University, Fullerton

Rafer Lutz

Baylor University

By the year 2020, 20% of the U.S. population will be age 65 years or older. From a health care perspective, there is growing concern about the aging population. Little is known about the elderly and their use of alternative therapies. This study included data from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS). Three-hundred and thirty-five participants between the ages of 65 and 74 completed the interview and mailback questionnaire. One-hundred and forty-five individuals (43.3%) reported using alternative medicine therapies during the past year. The most common types of alternative medicine utilized were as follows: spiritual practices, exercise/movement therapies, special diets, chiropractic, and meditation. Income, education, and sex of respondent were found to be predictors of alternative therapy use among this age group. Results from this study could provide conventional practitioners greater awareness of the health beliefs and practices of their young-old patients.

Key Words: alternative therapy • aging • health

Journal of Applied Gerontology, Vol. 23, No. 2, 91-103 (2004)
DOI: 10.1177/0733464804265604
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social ScienceHome page
T. A. Arcury, J. G. Grzywacz, R. A. Bell, R. H. Neiberg, W. Lang, and S. A. Quandt
Herbal Remedy Use as Health Self-Management Among Older Adults
J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., March 1, 2007; 62(2): S142 - S149.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social ScienceHome page
T. A. Arcury, R. A. Bell, B. M. Snively, S. L. Smith, A. H. Skelly, L. K. Wetmore, and S. A. Quandt
Complementary and alternative medicine use as health self-management: rural older adults with diabetes.
J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., March 1, 2006; 61(2): S62 - S70.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Complementary Health Practice ReviewHome page
C. P. Montalto, V. Bhargava, and G. S. Hong
Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine by Older Adults: An Exploratory Study
Complementary Health Practice Review, January 1, 2006; 11(1): 27 - 46.
[Abstract] [PDF]