AUTHOR=Böhme Sylvia , Renneberg Babette 

TITLE=Predicting Self-Rated Health in Diabetes and Chronic Heart Failure – A Multiple Mediation Model

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 3 - 2015

YEAR=2015

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2015.00266

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2015.00266

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=Purpose. Self-rated health is a powerful predictor of health-related outcomes such as morbidity and mortality. Aim of the current study was to examine the role of comorbidity, well-being, functional health and physical limitations as possible predictors of self-rated health in diabetes and chronic heart failure.
Methods. Three large samples with persons suffering from diabetes (n=974), chronic heart failure (n=955) or both diseases combined (n=934) were analyzed longitudinally over the course of 4 months. To test the mediating effect of comorbidity, well-being, functional health and physical limitations in the association of former and future self-rated health multiple mediator models were applied. 
Results. Across all groups emotional well-being was a consistent and powerful determinant of self-rated health. The effects of functional health and physical limitations on self-rated health were also significant but varied between diagnostic groups. The number of comorbid diseases did not predict self-rated health. 
Conclusions. Emotional well-being and the measures of physical health appraisal were strong predictors of self-rated health. Thus, self-rated health may be improved by influencing well-being and physical health appraisal via targeted interventions.