Robert H Pietrzak1, Becca R Levy2, Jack Tsai3, Steven M Southwick4. 1. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, VA Connecticut Healthcare System (RHP), West Haven, CT; Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine (RHP, SMS), New Haven, CT; Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health (RHP, BRL), New Haven, CT. Electronic address: rhpietrzak@gmail.com. 2. Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health (RHP, BRL), New Haven, CT. 3. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans (JT), Tampa, FL; School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (JT), San Antonio, TX. 4. Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine (RHP, SMS), New Haven, CT.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To identify the current prevalence, and sociodemographic, military, health, and psychosocial correlates of successful aging in older US veterans. METHODS: Data were analyzed from the 2019-2020 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study, which surveyed a nationally representative sample of 3,001 US veterans aged greater than or equal to 60 years (mean = 73). Multiple regression and relative importance analyses were conducted to identify key factors associated with successful aging. RESULTS: A total 79% of older veterans rated themselves as aging successfully. Physical and mental health difficulties emerged as the strongest correlates of successful aging (71% variance explained), while psychosocial factors, most notably perceived resilience, purpose in life, and positive expectations about emotional aging, explained 29% of the variance in this outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly 4 of 5 US veterans rate themselves as successful agers. Prevention and treatment efforts designed to mitigate physical and mental health difficulties, and promote protective psychosocial factors may help bolster successful aging in this population. Published by Elsevier Inc.
OBJECTIVE: To identify the current prevalence, and sociodemographic, military, health, and psychosocial correlates of successful aging in older US veterans. METHODS: Data were analyzed from the 2019-2020 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study, which surveyed a nationally representative sample of 3,001 US veterans aged greater than or equal to 60 years (mean = 73). Multiple regression and relative importance analyses were conducted to identify key factors associated with successful aging. RESULTS: A total 79% of older veterans rated themselves as aging successfully. Physical and mental health difficulties emerged as the strongest correlates of successful aging (71% variance explained), while psychosocial factors, most notably perceived resilience, purpose in life, and positive expectations about emotional aging, explained 29% of the variance in this outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly 4 of 5 US veterans rate themselves as successful agers. Prevention and treatment efforts designed to mitigate physical and mental health difficulties, and promote protective psychosocial factors may help bolster successful aging in this population. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Authors: Justin T McDaniel; Erin R Hascup; Kevin N Hascup; Mehul Trivedi; Harvey Henson; Robert Rados; Mary York; David L Albright; Taryn Weatherly; Kaitlyn Frick Journal: Gerontol Geriatr Med Date: 2022-02-28