An Examination of Self-Rated Health Among African-American Men

Self-rated health is a concept that has been linked to objective health outcomes but has not received much attention with regard to African-American men. The purpose of this study is to examine the relation of multiple factors (sociodemographic, health behaviors, personal health measures, and personality traits) with self-rated health in a sample of African-American men. The role personality plays in selfrated health in combination with other variables among African-American males has not thoroughly been explored. One hundred and seventy African-American men, ages 3070 years old, were recruited for this study and completed a questionnaire assessing self-rated health, sociodemographics, health behaviors, personal health measures, and personality traits. Block-wise regression modeling was employed. The blocks were sociodemographics, health behaviors, personal health measures, and personality traits. Variables significantly associated with self-rated health in block-wise regression analyses at P<.05 (household income, BMI, number of health conditions, and neuroticism) were entered into the final multiple logistic regression model. Being obese was associated with greater odds of poor/ fair self-rated health compared to being normal weight (OR = 9.02, 95 % CI 2.85-28.51, P<.001). Compared to reporting no health conditions, having more than one health condition was associated with greater odds of reporting poor/ fair self-rated health (OR= 4.82, 95 % CI 1.18-19.69, P=. 029). This study shows that existing medical conditions are important determinants of self-rated health among African-American men.