Highlights
- •52% of a large sample of US adults aged over 50 had ever used complementary health approaches.
- •31% had used complementary health approaches in the past year.
- •15% had used complementary health approaches for treatment only, 40% for wellness only, and 45% for both.
- •Herbs (60%), chiropractic (28%), massage (22%), and yoga (19%) were the most commonly used complementary health approaches.
- •Wellness-only and combined users had higher odds of reporting benefits of complementary health approaches.
Abstract
Objectives
To characterize the use of complementary health approaches (CHA) and examine the perceived
benefits of using CHA by reason for use among midlife and older adults.
Study design
Analysis of 2012 National Health Interview Survey data, a nationally representative
US sample using cross-tabulations with design-based F-tests and multiple logistic
regression. The analytic sample included adults aged over 50 years (N = 14,849).
Main outcome measures
The proposed benefits of using CHA included: (1) better control over health, (2) reduced
stress/relaxation, (3) better sleep, (4) feeling better emotionally, (5) coping with
health problems, (6) improved health/feeling better, and (7) improved relationships.
Results
Overall, 31% of this sample of midlife and older US adults had used CHA in the past
year. Among users, 15% had used CHA for treatment only, 40% for wellness only, and
45% for combined wellness and treatment. Herbs (60%), chiropractic (28%), massage
(22%), and yoga (19%) were the most common CHA. Wellness-only and combined users had
significantly higher odds of reporting that CHA conferred benefit compared with treatment-only
users.
Conclusions
CHA are used by nearly a third of midlife and older adults and are perceived to provide
substantial benefit. Integrating CHA as part of a healthy lifestyle has the potential
to contribute to healthy aging among midlife and older adults.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 19, 2016
Accepted:
April 16,
2016
Received in revised form:
April 5,
2016
Received:
January 25,
2016
Identification
Copyright
© 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
