Propensity Optimism and All-Cause Mortality among the Elderly

Doi: 10.1097 / PSY.0000000000000989

Explanation

Optimism is a modifiable trait and is said to be associated with healthy aging. The purpose of this study was to investigate how sex-directed optimism is associated with mortality from all causes among adults aged 70 and older.

Older adults without serious cardiovascular disease or dementia between 2010 and 2014 were recruited through their primary care physicians and enrolled in the Aspirin Reduction Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) clinical trial.

Eleven thousand seven hundred and seventy-one participants completed the ALSOP social questionnaire and answered the LOT-R. A median of 4.

During the 7-year follow-up period, 469 deaths were reported, which were not significant in the fully adjusted model. However, there was evidence from this analysis that age was an effect modifier of the association between optimism and longevity.

The results showed that higher optimism was associated with a lower risk of death only for individuals aged 77 and older.

Although the results were limited, individuals over 77 years of age and optimism appeared to be associated with a lower risk of mortality, but no relationship between optimism and mortality from all causes was observed in the entire sample.