Longevity & Sense of Purpose

Researchers examined data from the Health and Retirement Study, a cohort of 13,159 American adults over 50 years and of representative demographics, to investigate resilience factors and health-promoting practices.  They were interested in the impact of purpose in life, maintaining goals and a sense of direction, for different demographic groups.  They studied the longitudinal association between purpose and mortality risk, at baseline and at an 8-year follow up, by gender and race/ethnicity.

For all groups, as purpose levels increased, risk of all-cause mortality decreased.  Although the researchers observed no differences by race/ethnicity, the association between sustaining purpose in life and lower mortality was slightly stronger for women than for men.

This study evaluated psychological well-being using the Ryff Psychological Well-being Scales, which include questions about:

• Self-acceptance

• Positive Relationships

• Autonomy

• Environmental Mastery

• Purpose

• Personal Growth.

Purpose is described as having objectives and a sense of direction in life, as well as feeling like life has meaning in the past and present.

Takeaway: Having a sense of purpose appears to be connected to longevity and protective against mortality. 

Well-being is a journey, not a quick fix

Sources

Koichiro Shiba, et al., Purpose in Life and 8-Year Mortality by Gender and Race/Ethnicity Among Older Adults in the U.S., 164 Preventative Medicine 107310, Nov 2022, Purpose in life and 8-year mortality by gender and race/ethnicity among older adults in the U.S - ScienceDirect.  

Nicole Celestine, PhD., The Ryff Scales of Psychological Well-being: Your How-To Guide, Positive Psychology.com, Oct. 17, 2021, Ryff Scales of Psychological Wellbeing: Your How-To Guide (positivepsychology.com).