Objectives: The main purpose of this study is to investigate the elderly cognition of functional limitation, activity limitation, mental disorder and social and demographic characteristics (socioeconomic status, education, working status, sex and age) and their impacts on their self-perceived health status. Also to fit the health status data with Johnson and Wolinsky's model and offering a proper theoretical model for simultaneous assessment of variables were among other objectives of this study.

Methods & Materials: Via a descriptive, analytical and cross-sectional study, a survey conducted to investigate the health status of Iranian elderly in the year of 2002. Two approaches were used to explain the self-perceived health status among such elderly: the population health approach and health related indicator approach.

Results: The results of statistical analysis showed that elderly who have more functional and activity limitation, their self-perceived health status were weaker than those who had less functional and activity limitation. It is also found that people from lower class who have less income and lower education, have a lower self-perceived health status in compare to those who are from higher class with higher education and more income.

Conclusion: Functional limitation, activity limitation, mental disorder, socioeconomic status, education and age are significant determinants of the self perceived health status among elderly.