Purpose in life is associated with mortality among community-dwelling older persons
Open accessAbstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between purpose in life and all-cause mortality in community-dwelling elderly persons. METHODS: We used data from 1238 older persons without dementia from two longitudinal cohort studies (Rush Memory and Aging Project and Minority Aging Research Study) with baseline evaluations of purpose in life and up to 5 years of follow-up to test the hypothesis that greater purpose in life is associated with a reduced risk of mortality among community-dwelling older persons. RESULTS: The mean +/- standard deviation score on the purpose in life measure at baseline was 3.7 +/- 0.5 (range = 2-5), with higher scores indicating greater purpose in life. During the 5-year follow-up (mean = 2.7 years), 151 of 1238 persons (12.2%) died. In a proportional hazards model adjusted for age, sex, education, and race, a higher level of purpose in life was associated with a substantially reduced risk of mortality (hazard ratio = 0.60, 95% Confidence Interval = 0.42, 0.87). Thus, the hazard rate for a person with a high score on the purpose in life measure (score = 4.2, 90th percentile) was about 57% of the hazard rate of a person with a low score (score = 3.1, 10th percentile). The association of purpose in life with mortality did not differ among men and women or whites and blacks. Further, the finding persisted after the addition of terms for several potential confounders, including depressive symptoms, disability, neuroticism, the number of chronic medical conditions, and income. CONCLUSION: Greater purpose in life is associated with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality among community-dwelling older persons.
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Older adults who have a greater sense of purpose in life have a lower risk of mortality, even after accounting for depression, disability, and other comorbidities.
“Older adults who have a greater sense of purpose in life also had a lower risk of mortality, even after accounting for depression, disability, and other comorbidities. 75”
From Psychological Health, Well-Being, and the Mind-Heart-Body Connection: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association (2021) · cites this paper as [75]
Nostalgia may promote longevity.
“nostalgia may promote longevity (Boyle, Barnes, Buchman, & Bennett, 2009)”
From To Nostalgize (2015) · cites this paper as Boyle, Barnes, Buchman, & Bennett, 2009
The Methods describe a study of purpose in life and mortality among older persons, not nostalgia. The Discussion speculates that purpose in life may involve life review, but does not examine whether nostalgia promotes longevity. Searches for nostalgia, reminiscence, and memories of the past found no supporting passage. (LLM, conf=0.75)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredHigher PIL is associated with reduced mortality.
“In numerous prospective research studies, higher PIL has been associated with better self-rated health,22 fewer chronic diseases (eg, stroke,8,19 myocardial infarctions9), reduced pain,11 less disability,7,10,11 less dementia and Alzheimer's disease,23 and reduced mortality.6,10,11”
From Purpose in Life and Positive Health Outcomes Among Older Adults (2018) · cites this paper as [6]
There were minimal demographic differences with the exception of those 80 years of age and older having lower PIL.
“As in other studies, there were minimal demographic differences with the exception of those 80 years of age and older having lower PIL.”
From Purpose in Life and Positive Health Outcomes Among Older Adults (2018) · cites this paper as [6]
The average PIL score of 3.9 in this study was generally in the same range as other studies with 5 responses.
“However, the average PIL score of 3.9 in this study was generally in the same range as other studies with 5 responses.”
From Purpose in Life and Positive Health Outcomes Among Older Adults (2018) · cites this paper as [6]
Several researchers have recommended a focus on goal-driven, meaningful activities defined as hobbies, volunteerism, religious involvement, or physical activities.
“Interventions focused exclusively on PIL have yet to be developed, although several researchers have recommended a focus on goal-driven, meaningful activities defined as hobbies, volunteerism, religious involvement, or physical activities.”
From Purpose in Life and Positive Health Outcomes Among Older Adults (2018) · cites this paper as [6]
Interventions focused exclusively on PIL have yet to be developed.
“Interventions focused exclusively on PIL have yet to be developed, although several researchers have recommended a focus on goal-driven, meaningful activities defined as hobbies, volunteerism, religious involvement, or physical activities.”
From Purpose in Life and Positive Health Outcomes Among Older Adults (2018) · cites this paper as [6]
Numerous prospective studies from 2 to 8 years would strongly suggest that high PIL results in better health and less disability.
“Numerous prospective studies from 2 to 8 years would strongly suggest that high PIL results in better health and less disability.”
From Purpose in Life and Positive Health Outcomes Among Older Adults (2018) · cites this paper as [6]
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- Authors
- Boyle, P. A., Barnes, L. L., Buchman, A. S., & Bennett, D. A.
- Affiliations
- Rush University Medical Center (US)
- Corresponding author
- Boyle, Patricia A.
- Venue
- Psychosomatic Medicine
- Published
- 2009-06
- Volume
- 71
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 574-579
- ISSN
- 0033-3174 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC2740716
- OpenAlex
- W2059523678
- Cited by
- 526
- References
- 38
- Citations by year
- 2026: 19 · 2025: 33 · 2024: 30 · 2023: 33 · 2022: 42 · 2021: 51 · 2020: 50 · 2019: 34 · 2018: 36 · 2017: 33 · 2016: 35 · 2015: 26 · 2014: 29 · 2013: 24 · 2012: 23
- FWCI
- 21.27
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Psychosomatic Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Aging (R01AG017917, R01‐AG17917, R01AG22018, P30AG010161, K23AG023040, R01AG022018)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
- Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
- Keywords
- meaning of life, all-cause mortality, community-dwelling older adults, aging, mortality risk, depressive symptoms, neuroticism, chronic disease, income, sex differences, racial differences
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Black or African American, Cause of Death, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Goals, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Psychometrics, Quality of Life, Surveys and Questionnaires, Risk Factors, Cohort Studies, Intention
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