Research has demonstrated that perceived health, while related to objective determinants of health, is a separate determination of individuals using different information than others. To investigate the relationship of ego development to perceptions of health, 192 subjects (64 college students, 64 adult community residents, and 64 retired older adults) completed two measures of ego development and four measures of health status and well being. An analysis of the results showed that subjective well being and an awareness of actual health problems were significant predictors of the self-rating of health for college students and retired older adults. Among community residents, increased educational status and more complex ego development levels were associated with positive self-ratings of health. Endorsements on self-report health measures varied significantly according to complexity of ego development, with more complex people endorsing items reflecting better health status. These findings suggest that the self-rating of health represents an assessment of individuals' satisfaction with their current level of coping with health problems. (Author/BL)