Emily C Willroth1, Daniel K Mroczek2, Patrick L Hill3. 1. Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, United States of America. Electronic address: emily.willroth@northwestern.edu. 2. Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, United States of America; Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, United States of America. 3. Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, United States of America.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Having a sense of purpose in life is fundamental to psychological and physical well-being. Despite the benefits of purpose, it may be difficult to hold onto purpose as people age. The present research addressed four aims: (1) to estimate average change in sense of purpose during midlife; (2) to test associations between purpose levels and later physical health; (3) to test associations between purpose change and later physical health; (4) to examine the cross-cultural generalizability of findings. METHODS: We used reliable change indices to estimate change in sense of purpose during midlife in three prospective cohorts: one comprised predominately of White participants in the U.S. (N = 2692), a second predominately of African American participants in the U.S. (N = 248), and a third of Japanese participants in Tokyo (N = 644). Next, we used linear regression to examine associations between purpose levels and purpose change and later self-reported general health and chronic health conditions. RESULTS: At the group level, purpose declined slightly across time (Cohen's ds = -0.08 to -0.17). At the individual level, 10-14% of participants reliably decreased in purpose, whereas only 6-8% of participants reliably increased in purpose. Consistent with our preregistered hypotheses, higher purpose levels predicted better health in the two larger samples (βs = 0.10-0.18, small effects) and more positive purpose change predicted better health in all three samples (βs = 0.08--0.22., small to medium effects). CONCLUSION: Together, these findings suggest that both having a sense of purpose and holding onto it may be important for physical health in middle to older adulthood.
OBJECTIVE: Having a sense of purpose in life is fundamental to psychological and physical well-being. Despite the benefits of purpose, it may be difficult to hold onto purpose as people age. The present research addressed four aims: (1) to estimate average change in sense of purpose during midlife; (2) to test associations between purpose levels and later physical health; (3) to test associations between purpose change and later physical health; (4) to examine the cross-cultural generalizability of findings. METHODS: We used reliable change indices to estimate change in sense of purpose during midlife in three prospective cohorts: one comprised predominately of White participants in the U.S. (N = 2692), a second predominately of African American participants in the U.S. (N = 248), and a third of Japanese participants in Tokyo (N = 644). Next, we used linear regression to examine associations between purpose levels and purpose change and later self-reported general health and chronic health conditions. RESULTS: At the group level, purpose declined slightly across time (Cohen's ds = -0.08 to -0.17). At the individual level, 10-14% of participants reliably decreased in purpose, whereas only 6-8% of participants reliably increased in purpose. Consistent with our preregistered hypotheses, higher purpose levels predicted better health in the two larger samples (βs = 0.10-0.18, small effects) and more positive purpose change predicted better health in all three samples (βs = 0.08--0.22., small to medium effects). CONCLUSION: Together, these findings suggest that both having a sense of purpose and holding onto it may be important for physical health in middle to older adulthood.
Authors: Ilene C Siegler; Paul T Costa; Beverly H Brummett; Michael J Helms; John C Barefoot; Redford B Williams; W Grant Dahlstrom; Berton H Kaplan; Peter P Vitaliano; Milton Z Nichaman; R Sue Day; Barbara K Rimer Journal: Psychosom Med Date: 2003 Sep-Oct Impact factor: 4.312
Authors: Nicholas A Turiano; Lindsay Pitzer; Cherie Armour; Arun Karlamangla; Carol D Ryff; Daniel K Mroczek Journal: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci Date: 2011-07-15 Impact factor: 4.077