Our self-assurance has an impact on our actions. People who have an unhealthy level of confidence earn more money, invest it differently, and are more likely to be in positions of leadership. They also engage in riskier behaviour, are more likely to be involved in accidents, and have a lower overall health quality because they consume more alcohol, eat less properly, and sleep less.
People’s perceptions of their own health might impact health-related decisions like whether or not to see a doctor. People who overestimate their health go to the doctor 17 percent less often than those who appropriately assess their health, which is important for preventive treatment like screenings. Professor Sonja Spitzer of the University of Vienna and Professor Mujaheed Shaikh of the Hertie School of Governance conducted the study. The results of dental visits were found to be comparable.
The frequency or length of hospitalizations were unaffected by a person’s assessment of their own health. This is most likely due to the fact that hospital stays are strictly regulated and frequently necessitate a doctor’s recommendation.
In addition, the researchers discovered that persons who lied about their health went to the doctor 21 percent more often than those who did not. On the one hand, these additional visits are likely to incur unneeded costs. This is serious when you consider the ageing population and the significant expenditures associated with it in terms of public health. Those who undervalue their own health and, as a result, devote more attention to it may, in the long run, become extremely fit, which may benefit society.
Methodology of the study.
The researchers used statistical tools to analyse data from around 80,000 people in Europe aged 50 and higher for their study. The data was collected from 2006 to 2013 as part of the SHARE inquiry and analysed in 2013 (European Survey on Health, Aging, and Retirement).
The participants were first asked to score their overall health and whether or not they had trouble getting off of a chair after sitting for a long time.
After that, the patients were forced to get out of their chairs while the study was conducted. As a result, they were able to establish whether a person’s degree of health is overestimated, underestimated, or adequately assessed.
Memory and mobility-related judgement errors were also taken into account by the researchers. Only 11% overestimated and 10% underestimated their own health, according to the majority of respondents (79%) who had a realistic view of their own health.
Who is aware of their personal health situation?
The present study adds on prior findings that show how one’s perception of one’s own health varies significantly based on age, nationality, and educational attainment.
The older a person becomes, the more inclined they are to exaggerate their health status. People in Southern Europe have an exaggerated perception of their own health, according to the study’s findings, whereas people in Central and Eastern Europe have a more true perception.
People who have completed their schooling are also more likely to appraise their own health accurately. Experts believe that health literacy and education should be prioritised. Our perceptions of our own health have the potential to influence our real health in the long run.
Story Source: Original press release by University of Vienna.. Note: Content may be edited for style and length by Scible News.
References
Sonja Spitzer, Mujaheed Shaikh. Health misperception and healthcare utilisation among older Europeans. The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, 2022; 22: 100383 DOI: 10.1016/j.jeoa.2022.100383
