Complaints of the ageing male based on a representative community study

Objectives: To determine (a) the relationship between physical and somatoform complaints, distress and life satisfaction and ageing in the male community and (b) their psychosocial determinants. Methods: Two stratified random samples of the German male population (total of 2182 men) were investigated by standardised questionnaires of complaints (MFI-20, GBB), distress (HADS) and life satisfaction. Results: When participants were grouped into six age groups (18-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, 61-70, >70 years), we found a continuous increase of physical, mental and general fatigue, and a reduced activity and motivation associated with age. Exhaustion, cardiovascular and musculosceletal complaints also increased. This was accompanied by a reduced health satisfaction and increased depression scores. Marked increases of certain complaints occurred in specific age groups. Conclusions: Community data provide important reference points in evaluating the ageing male. Based on regression analyses we could also demonstrate the contribution of psychosocial vulnerability and protective factors to the development of age-related symptoms. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All fights reserved.