Sense of Purpose in Life and Subsequent Physical, Behavioral, and Psychosocial Health: An Outcome-Wide Approach.

Eric S. Kim,Ying Chen,Carol D. Ryff,Tyler J. VanderWeele,Julia S. Nakamura

doi:10.1177/08901171211038545

Abstract

Purpose:Growing evidence indicates that a higher sense of purpose in life (purpose) is associated with reduced risk of chronic diseases and mortality. However, epidemiological studies have not evaluated if change in purpose is associated with subsequent health and well-being outcomes.Design:We evaluated if positive change in purpose (between t0; 2006/2008 and t1;2010/2012) was associated with better outcomes on 35 indicators of physical health, health behaviors, and psychosocial well-being (at t2;2014/2016).Sample:We used data from 12,998 participants in the Health and Retirement study—a prospective and nationally representative cohort of U.S. adults aged >50.Analysis:We conducted multiple linear-, logistic-, and generalized linear regressions.Results:Over the 4-year follow-up period, people with the highest (versus lowest) purpose had better subsequent physical health outcomes (e.g., 46% reduced risk of mortality (95% CI [0.44, 0.66])), health behaviors (e.g., 13% reduced risk of sleep problems (95% CI [0.77, 0.99])), and psychosocial outcomes (e.g., higher optimism (β = 0.41, 95% CI [0.35, 0.47]), 43% reduced risk of depression (95% CI [0.46, 0.69]), lower loneliness (β = −0.35, 95% CI [−0.41, −0.29])). Importantly, however, purpose was not associated with other physical health outcomes, health behaviors, and social factors.Conclusion:With further research, these results suggest that sense of purpose might be a valuable target for innovative policy and intervention work aimed at improving health and well-being.

Highlights

Growing evidence indicates that a higher sense of purpose in life is associated with reduced risk of chronic diseases and mortality
What health and well-being outcomes might we observe if purpose was intervened upon? To begin addressing this question, we used an outcome-wide analytic approach,[36] and performed analyses to examine whether positive change in purpose at baseline was associated with better subsequent health and well-being across 35 separate outcomes in a large, prospective, and nationally representative sample of adults aged over 50
As the number of older adults in our society rapidly increases, comprehensive and multidisciplinary efforts will be needed to meet the unique demands of this growing population, including policy changes and intervention strategies designed to promote good physical, behavioral, psychological, and social health

Summary

Introduction

Growing evidence indicates that a higher sense of purpose in life (purpose) is associated with reduced risk of chronic diseases and mortality. To begin addressing this question, we used an outcome-wide analytic approach,[36] and performed analyses to examine whether positive change in purpose at baseline was associated with better subsequent health and well-being across 35 separate outcomes (indicators of: physical health, health behaviors, psychological well-being, psychological distress, and social wellbeing) in a large, prospective, and nationally representative sample of adults aged over 50 These outcomes were chosen because they are frequently included in the conceptualization of key gerontological models that characterize the antecedents, processes, and outcomes that foster people’s ability to age well.[37,38,39,40,41] In these analyses we controlled for: the exposure (purpose) in the pre-baseline wave, a robust range of potential confounders, and all outcomes. To the best of our knowledge, no existing studies in this area have used this approach

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion