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A Different Perspective on Health and Health Services Utilization

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Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics

Abstract

For more than a decade gerontologists interested in health and health behavior have called for the recognition of the marked heterogeneity that exists in these areas (e.g., Bloom & Soper, 1980; Butler, 1975; Evashwick, Rowe, Diehr, & Branch, 1984; Haug, 1981; Kovar, 1977, 1986; Shanas & Maddox, 1985; Soldo & Manton, 1985; Wan & Arling, 1983; Wolinsky & Coe, 1984), and a thoughtful examination of the most recent federal government publication on the subject supports their call (Havlik et al., 1987). These observations about heterogeneity (1) are consistent with both theory and research, (2) suggest a number of methodological problems, and (3) have important implications for public policy. We will illustrate all three points, devoting a separate section of this chapter to each.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology and Department of Humanities in Medicine, Texas A&M University, USA

    Fredric D. Wolinsky Ph.D.

  2. Department of Sociology, Texas A&M University, USA

    Connie Lea Arnold

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  1. Fredric D. Wolinsky Ph.D.
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  2. Connie Lea Arnold
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George L. Maddox Ph.D. M. Powell Lawton Ph.D.

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Wolinsky, F.D., Arnold, C.L. (1988). A Different Perspective on Health and Health Services Utilization. In: Maddox, G.L., Lawton, M.P. (eds) Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-38443-5_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-38443-5_3

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