Chronic loneliness and chronic social isolation among older adults. A systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression.

OBJECTIVES: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the prevalence and antecedents/consequences of chronic loneliness and social isolation (i.e. enduring or persistent experience that extends over a certain period of time) among older adults. Moreover, we conducted a meta-regression to explore sources of heterogeneity. METHOD: A search was conducted in four electronic databases. We included observational studies that reported prevalence and, where available, antecedents/consequences of chronic loneliness or chronic social isolation amongst older adults. Key characteristics of the studies were extracted. RESULTS: Across 17 studies included in the meta-analysis, the estimated prevalence of chronic loneliness was 20.8% (95% CI: 16.1-25.5%), including 21.7% among women (95% CI: 16.1-27.4%) and 16.3% among men (95% CI: 10.6-21.9%). One study reported chronic social isolation (13.4%) and found that chronic social isolation predicted higher depression scores. Meta-regressions indicated that loneliness was less prevalent when assessed with single-item measures. Regarding antecedents/consequences, spousal loss can contribute to chronic loneliness which in turn may contribute to adverse health-related outcomes. CONCLUSION: About one in five older adults experiences chronic loneliness reflecting the need to address chronic loneliness. More longitudinal research is needed on chronic loneliness and social isolation, particularly from low and middle-income countries.

Purpose in life and stress: Momentary associations from a micro-longitudinal study.

Purpose in life is an aspect of well-being associated with less subjective stress. The present research sought to expand this literature by testing the association between both dispositional and momentary purpose with stress in daily life using a micro-longitudinal study design. Participants (N = 303) reported their dispositional purpose at baseline and reported their momentary purpose and stress three times a day for 8 days. Between-person, dispositional purpose was associated with less momentary stress across the 8 days tested with linear regression (ß = -0.29, 95% CI = -0.39, -18, p < 0.001); it was unrelated to variability in stress (ß = 0.05, 95% CI = -0.05, 0.14, p = 0.310). In contrast, the within-person analysis tested with multilevel modelling indicated that in moments when participants felt more purpose-driven than their average, they felt more stressed (b = 0.09, 95% CI = 0.06, 0.12, SE = 0.01, p < 0.001). This association was slightly stronger among participants with relatively lower dispositional purpose (binteraction = -0.04, SE = 0.02, 95% CI = -0.08, -0.01, p = 0.032). This study replicated the negative association between dispositional purpose and subjective stress when stress was measured at moments in daily life. It also found that feeling more purpose-driven than usual in the moment is stressful, a counterintuitive finding that, if replicated, suggests that striving for purpose can be stressful in the moment, even if feeling more purposeful in general is associated with lower stress.

Perceived Weight Discrimination and General Coping Strategies.

BACKGROUND: Perceived weight discrimination is associated consistently with worse health outcomes. Coping strategies may be one mechanism of this association. The present research examined the association between perceived weight discrimination and strategies used to cope with general stress (not weight-specific) and whether these strategies accounted for part of the association with markers of health. METHOD: Participants (N = 1882) completed a cross-sectional survey with a comprehensive measure of coping strategies and reported on their perceived experience of weight discrimination and markers of physical, mental, and social health. RESULTS: Perceived weight discrimination was associated with greater use of disengaged coping strategies (ß = .19, p < .01) and was unrelated to active and support coping strategies. Disengaged coping mediated the association between weight discrimination and worse physical, mental, and social health (proportion of mediation ranged from 14 to 47%). This pathway was independent of body mass index (BMI). Individuals in the obesity weight category (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) were less likely to use active (ß = - .11, p < .01) and support (ß = - .09, p < .01) coping strategies, which did not consistently mediate the association with health. CONCLUSION: Perceived experiences of weight discrimination are associated with disengaged coping strategies to manage stressful experiences, and these strategies are one mechanism that may contribute to the worse health associated with unfair treatment due to weight.

Personality traits and measures of neuropsychiatric symptoms.

OBJECTIVES: Changes in personality and behavioral symptoms are a core clinical criterion for the diagnosis of dementia. This study examines the association between caregiver-rated personality traits and multiple measures of neuropsychiatric symptoms. METHOD: Caregivers of individuals with dementia (N = 191) or cancer (N = 137) provided premorbid and concurrent personality trait ratings using the Big Five Inventory-2. Caregivers also completed the Mild Behavioral Impairment Checklist, Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire, and Revised Memory and Behavior Problems Checklist. RESULTS: In the combined sample, high concurrent neuroticism was associated with emotional dysregulation (r = 0.51), low agreeableness with impulse dyscontrol (r=-0.40), and low conscientiousness with decreased motivation (r=-0.42). Associations were similar across neuropsychiatric symptom scales, similar across cancer and dementia, but stronger with concurrent than premorbid personality ratings, and stronger for the individuals with mild than moderate-severe dementia. CONCLUSION: Personality was associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms, including with the measure for mild behavioral impairment. Personality had stronger associations when concurrently assessed, indicating that personality traits co-develop with neuropsychiatric symptoms. The associations were similar across cancer and dementia, suggesting transdiagnostic processes not limited to dementia. Neuropsychiatric symptoms are partly an expression of personality; accounting for personality traits could help with diagnosis and disease monitoring, tailoring interventions, and fostering person-centered care.

Personality and Transition From Mild Cognitive Impairment to Normal Cognition vs Dementia.

OBJECTIVES: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a critical stage preceding incident dementia, but not all individuals with MCI progress to dementia and some revert to normal cognition. This study examined whether personality is associated with the probability of transition from MCI to normal cognition or dementia. DESIGN: Longitudinal observational study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Older adults with MCI from the Health and Retirement Study (N = 1608, 56% female, mean age = 72.29, SD = 9.91). Personality traits; cognitive status; and demographic (age, sex, education, race, and ethnicity), clinical (diabetes, hypertension), behavioral (smoking, physical activity), psychological (depressive symptoms), and genetic (apolipoprotein E ε4) covariates were obtained in 2006/2008. Follow-up data on cognitive status were collected every 2 years up to the 2020 wave. METHODS: Cox regression analyses tested the association between personality and reversion from MCI to normal cognition and progression to dementia, controlling for demographic, clinical, behavioral, psychological, and genetic covariates. RESULTS: Controlling for demographic factors, lower neuroticism and higher openness and conscientiousness were associated with a higher likelihood of reversion from MCI to normal cognition and a lower risk of progression to dementia over time. Higher agreeableness was related to a lower risk of progression to dementia. Clinical, behavioral, psychological, and genetic factors partially accounted for these associations. There was little evidence that demographic, genetic factors, or baseline cognition moderated these associations. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Personality traits can help identify individuals who are more likely to revert from MCI and not progress to dementia. These findings suggest that even during mild impairment, personality may modulate dementia risk and thus inform targeted interventions.

Balance, Strength, and Risk of Dementia: Findings From the Health and Retirement Study and the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.

BACKGROUND: Slow gait speed has been consistently associated with an increased risk of dementia. This study examined whether measures of balance and lower limb strength are similarly related to the risk of developing dementia. METHODS: Participants from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS, N = 5 658, mean age = 73.23, standard deviation [SD] = 6.22) and the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA, N = 3667, mean age = 69.90, SD = 7.02) completed measures of gait speed, semi-tandem balance, chair stand (ELSA only), and cognitive status at baseline. Cognitive status was assessed over up to 15 years. RESULTS: Baseline slower gait speed (hazard ratio [HR]HRS = 1.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.32-1.75, p < .001; HRELSA = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.37-2.18, p < .001); and balance impairment (HRHRS = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.26-1.96, p < .001; HRELSA = 1.97, 95% CI = 1.24-3.14, p < .01) were related to a higher risk of incident dementia, adjusting for demographic factors. The combination of slower gait and impaired balance was associated with a two-to-three times higher risk of dementia in HRS and ELSA. Worse performance on the chair stand at baseline was associated with a higher risk of dementia in ELSA (HR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.23-1.99, p < .001). All performance measures remained significant when entered simultaneously and accounted for obesity, diabetes, blood pressure, physical activity, smoking, and depressive symptoms. There was little evidence that age, sex, or APOE ε4 moderated the association. CONCLUSIONS: Similar to gait speed, measures of balance and strength are associated with a higher risk of incident dementia. The findings have implications for clinical practice, given that these routinely used geriatric assessment tools are similarly related to dementia risk.

Life Events and Incident Dementia: A Prospective Study of 493,787 Individuals Over 16 Years.

OBJECTIVES: Life events can be stressful and have a detrimental impact on health, but evidence is inconclusive regarding life events and dementia risk. The present study tests whether life events are associated with incident dementia, whether experiencing multiple events has cumulative effects, and whether the associations vary across age, sex, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and genetic vulnerability. METHODS: UK Biobank participants (N = 493,787) reported on 6 life events that occurred within the past 2 years: serious illness, injury, assault to yourself or close relative, death of a spouse/partner or close relative, marital separation/divorce, and financial problems. Incident all-cause dementia was ascertained through health records from the UK National Health Service over a 16-year follow-up. RESULTS: Serious illness, injury, or assault to yourself, marital separation/divorce, and financial difficulties were associated with a higher risk of dementia; serious illness, injury, or assault of a close relative was associated with a lower risk of dementia. When combined, experiencing 3-4 events was associated with a more than 2-fold increase in dementia risk. The association for marital separation/divorce was stronger within the first 5 years of follow-up (consistent with reverse causality). Death of a spouse/partner or close relative was mostly unrelated to dementia risk. With few exceptions, the associations were similar across age, sex, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and apolipoprotein E e4 status groups. DISCUSSION: Severe illness, injury, or personal assault, marital separation or divorce, and financial hardships may raise risk of dementia, particularly when these events occur together.

Purpose in life and stress: An individual-participant meta-analysis of 16 samples.

Background: Purpose in life is a psychological resource that has been associated with better regulation of stress. The present research reports a coordinated analysis of the association between purpose in life and subjective stress and evaluates potential sociodemographic and mental health moderators of this association. Methods: With individual participant data from 16 samples (total N=108,391), linear regression examined the association between purpose in life and general subjective feelings of stress, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. Results: Greater purpose in life was associated with less subjective stress (meta-analytic estimate=-.228, 95% Confidence Interval=-.292, -.164; p<.001). Interaction terms between sociodemographic factors and purpose tested in the individual samples and synthesized with meta-analysis were not significant, which indicated that the association between purpose and stress was similar across age, sex, race, ethnicity, and education. The association was also not moderated by psychological distress. Meta-regressions further indicated that this association was generally similar across scale length, content of the purpose measure, and across samples from Eastern and Western countries. Limitations: The associations reported are observational. Experimental work is needed to evaluate causality. Conclusions: Purpose in life is associated with less subjective stress across populations. Less subjective stress may be one mechanism through which purpose contributes to better mental and physical health.

Prevalence and factors associated with probable depression among the oldest old during the Covid-19 pandemic: evidence from the large, nationally representative 'Old Age in Germany (D80+)' study.

BACKGROUND: To date, most studies examining the prevalence and determinants of depression among individuals aged 80 and over have used geographically limited samples that are not generalisable to the wider population. Thus, our aim was to identify the prevalence and the factors associated with probable depression among the oldest old in Germany based on nationally representative data. METHODS: Data were taken from the nationally representative 'Old Age in Germany (D80+)' study (n = 8386; November 2020 to April 2021) covering both community-dwelling and institutionalised individuals aged 80 and over. The Short Form of the Depression in Old Age Scale was used to quantify probable depression. RESULTS: Probable depression was found in 40.7% (95% CI: 39.5% to 42.0%) of the sample; 31.3% were men (95% CI: 29.7% to 32.9%) and 46.6% women (95% CI: 44.9% to 48.3%). The odds of probable depression were positively associated with being female (odds ratio (OR): 1.55, 95% CI: 1.30 to 1.84), being divorced (compared to being married, OR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.76), being widowed (OR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.00 to 1.30), having a low education (e.g., medium education compared to low education, OR: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.74 to 0.99), living in an institutionalised setting (OR: 2.36, 95% CI: 1.84 to 3.02), living in East Germany (OR: 1.21, 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.39), not having German citizenship (German citizenship compared to other citizenship, OR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.31 to 0.95), poor self-rated health (OR: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.28 to 0.34), and the number of chronic conditions (OR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.09 to 1.14). CONCLUSION: About four out of 10 individuals aged 80 and over in Germany had probable depression, underlining the importance of this challenge. Knowledge of specific risk factors for this age group may assist in addressing older adults at risk of probable depression.

Sociodemographic predictors of perceived weight discrimination.

BACKGROUND: Perceived weight discrimination is associated with increased risk for chronic diseases and reduced life expectancy. Nevertheless, little is known about perceived weight discrimination in racial, ethnic, and sexual minority groups or in individuals at the intersections of those groups. The goal of this study was to identify sociodemographic predictors of perceived weight discrimination. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A diverse sample of adults (37% Black/African American, 36% Latino, 29% sexual minority) with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 18.5 kg/m2 were recruited from a national US panel to complete an online survey (N = 2454). Perceived weight discrimination was assessed with the Stigmatizing Situations Survey-Brief (SSI-B). Using hierarchical linear regression analysis, SSI-B scores were predicted from the four sociodemographic characteristics of interest (gender, race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation) while controlling for BMI, age, education, and income (Step 1). At Step 2, all two-way interactions between the four sociodemographic characteristics were added to the model. RESULTS: At Step 1, higher SSI-B scores were observed for Latino (vs. non-Latino) adults, sexual minority (vs. heterosexual) adults, younger (vs. older) adults, adults with higher (vs. lower) levels of education, and adults with higher (vs. lower) BMI. At Step 2, race interacted with gender, ethnicity, and sexual orientation to predict SSI-B scores such that relatively higher scores were observed for non-Black women, Black men, adults who identified as Black and Latino, and non-Black sexual minority adults. CONCLUSIONS: Perceived weight discrimination varied across sociodemographic groups, with some subgroups reporting relatively high frequency. Black race appeared to be protective for some subgroups (e.g., Black women), but risk-enhancing for others (e.g., Black men, individuals who identified as Black and Latino). Additional research is needed to identify specific factors that cause certain sociodemographic groups -and indeed, certain individuals-to perceive higher levels of weight discrimination than others.

Are social interactions perceived as more meaningful in older adulthood?

Social relationships accompany us throughout adulthood and are among the most important sources of meaning in a person's life. However, little is known about age differences in meaningfulness of social interactions across adulthood. According to socioemotional selectivity theory, as people age, they develop relatively stronger preferences for social relationships that are emotionally meaningful. Consequently, older adults may perceive social interactions in everyday life as more meaningful than younger adults. To test this hypothesis, the present study examined age-related differences in the perceived meaningfulness of daily social interactions using experience sampling data. Three-hundred six participants (56.9% women, 18-88 years) completed a total of 6,407 entries over 3 days. Results of the multilevel analyses showed that age was positively associated with perceived meaningfulness of daily social interactions, controlling for relationship closeness and situation valence. In addition, the perceived meaningfulness of daily social interactions was positively related to subjective well-being both between and within all participants, indicating that meaningful social interactions are beneficial for well-being regardless of age. Thus, perceiving social interactions as meaningful could be one way that older people maintain a high level of well-being in their daily lives. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

German population norms of the preference to solitude scale and its correlates.

AIM: Our first aim was to present norm values for the Preference for Solitude Scale by sex, age, and other sociodemographic groups. Our second aim was to evaluate the correlates of preference for solitude. METHODS: Data were collected in August/September 2023 from a sample of individuals (N = 5000) living in Germany aged 18 to 74 years (ensuring representativeness in terms of sex, age group and federal state for the German general adult population). The established and valid Preference for Solitude Scale (range 0 to 12, with higher values reflecting a stronger preference for solitude) was used to quantify the preference for solitude. Norm values were provided by sex and age groups. Multiple linear regressions were used to examine the correlates of preference for solitude. RESULTS: Average preference for solitude score was 7.6 (SD = 3.0; 0 to 12). The average score was 7.3 (SD = 3.0) among males and 7.9 (SD = 2.9) among females. Regressions showed that a stronger preference for solitude was associated with being female (ß = .51, p < .001), being older (e.g., being 40 to 49 years compared to 18 to 29 years, ß = .85, p < .001), being single (e.g., divorced compared to being single, ß = -.78, p < .01), higher level of education (secondary education compared to primary education, ß = .43, p < .01), never been a smoker (e.g., daily smoker compared to never smokers, ß = -.61, p < .001), absence of alcohol consumption (e.g., drinking once a week compared to never drinking, ß = -1.09, p < .001), no sports activity (e.g., 2-4 hours per week compared to no sports activity, ß = -.60, p < .001), poorer self-rated health (ß = .28, p < .001) and more depressive symptoms (ß = .05, p < .001). Sex-stratified regressions yielded similar results. CONCLUSION: Norm values provided in this study can be used as a benchmark for comparison with other countries and can guide further research dealing with preferences for solitude. We demonstrated the importance of several sociodemographic factors (e.g., marital status), lifestyle-related factors (e.g., sports activity), and health-related factors (e.g., depressive symptoms) for the preference for solitude. Such knowledge about the correlates of preference for solitude may help to characterize them. This is essential to ensure a good balance between social interaction and being alone. This is important because preference for solitude is associated with poor self-rated health and depression, but also with healthy behaviors such as abstaining from smoking and drinking.

Personality traits and polypharmacy: meta-analysis of five samples.

OBJECTIVE: The present study examined the prospective relationship between personality traits and the risk of polypharmacy. METHODS AND MEASURES: Participants (age range: 16-101 years; N > 15,000) were from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), the Midlife in the United States Study (MIDUS), the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study of Aging (WLS), and the Longitudinal Internet Studies for the Social Sciences (LISS). In each sample, personality traits and demographic factors were assessed at baseline. Number of medications was obtained from 2 to 20 years later. RESULTS: Random-effect meta-analyses revealed that higher neuroticism was related to a higher risk of polypharmacy (Odd Ratio = 1.30; 95% CI 1.17-1.46) and excessive polypharmacy (Odd Ratio = 1.44; 95% CI 1.18-1.77) whereas higher conscientiousness (Odd Ratio = 0.84; 95% CI 0.74-0.95) and extraversion (Odd Ratio = 0.85; 95% CI 0.73-0.98) were associated with a lower risk of polypharmacy. Openness and agreeableness were unrelated to polypharmacy. Body mass index, number of chronic conditions, and depressive symptoms partially mediated the association between personality and the number of medications. CONCLUSION: The present study provides replicable and robust evidence that neuroticism is a risk factor for simultaneous use of multiple medications, whereas conscientiousness and extraversion may play a protective role.

Personality nuances and risk of dementia: Evidence from two longitudinal studies.

Personality traits are broad constructs composed of nuances, operationalized by personality items, that can provide a more granular understanding of personality associations with health outcomes. This study examined the associations between personality nuances and incident dementia and evaluated whether nuances associations replicate across two samples. Health and Retirement Study (HRS, N = 11,400) participants were assessed in 2006/2008, and the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA, N = 7453) participants were assessed in 2010/2011 on personality and covariates. Dementia incidence was tracked for 14 years in the HRS and 8 years in ELSA. In both HRS and ELSA, higher neuroticism domain and nuances (particularly nervous and worry) were related to a higher risk of incident dementia, whereas higher conscientiousness domain and nuances (particularly responsibility and organization) were associated with a lower risk of dementia. To a lesser extent, higher extraversion (active), openness (broad-minded, curious, and imaginative), and agreeableness (helpful, warm, caring, and sympathetic) nuances were associated with a lower risk of dementia, with replicable effects across the two samples. A poly-nuance score, aggregating the effects of personality items, was associated with an increased risk of incident dementia in the HRS and ELSA, with effect sizes slightly stronger than those of the personality domains. Clinical, behavioral, psychological, and genetic covariates partially accounted for these associations. The present study provides novel and replicable evidence for specific personality characteristics associated with the risk of incident dementia.

Personality traits and the risk of urinary incontinence: Evidence from three longitudinal samples.

OBJECTIVE: Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common condition with a substantial negative impact on older adults' quality of life. This study examines whether individual differences in behavioral, cognitive, and emotional traits assessed by the five major dimensions of personality are related to the risk of concurrent and incident UI. METHODS: Participants were older women and men (N > 26,000) from the Midlife in the United States Survey, the Health and Retirement Study, and the English Longitudinal Study of Aging. In each cohort, personality traits (measured with the Midlife Development Inventory) and demographic (age, sex, education, and race), clinical (body mass index, diabetes, blood pressure), and behavioral (smoking) factors were assessed at baseline. UI was assessed at baseline and again 8-20 years later. Results for each cohort were combined in random-effect meta-analyses. RESULTS: Consistently across cohorts, higher neuroticism and lower conscientiousness were related to a higher risk of concurrent and incident UI. To a lesser extent, extraversion, openness, and agreeableness were also related to lower risk of concurrent and incident UI. BMI, diabetes, blood pressure, and smoking partially accounted for these associations. There was little evidence that age or sex moderated the associations. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides novel, robust, and replicable evidence linking personality traits to UI. The higher vulnerability for UI for individuals who score higher on neuroticism and lower on conscientiousness is consistent with findings for other multifactorial geriatric syndromes. Personality traits can help identify individuals at risk and may help contextualize the clinical presentation of comorbid emotional, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms.

Purpose in Life and Cognitive Function: Evidence for Momentary Associations in Daily Life.

Background and Objectives: Purpose in life is associated with healthier cognitive outcomes in older adulthood. This research examines within-person dynamics between momentary purpose and cognitive function to provide proof of concept that increases in purpose are associated with better cognitive performance. Research Design and Methods: Participants (N = 303; 54% female; Mage = 51.71, SD = 7.32) completed smartphone-based momentary assessments of purpose and short cognitive tasks 3 times a day for 8 days. Results: In moments when participants felt more purpose driven than their average, they had faster processing speed (b = -1.240, SE = 0.194; p < .001), independent of person, temporal, and contextual factors and practice effects. Momentary purpose was unrelated to visual working memory performance (b = -0.001, SE = 0.001; p = .475). In contrast to purpose, momentary hedonic affect (e.g., happiness) was unrelated to momentary cognition. Discussion and Implications: Feeling more momentary purpose may support faster processing speed in daily life. Such evidence provides stage 0 support for a purpose-based intervention for healthier cognition, which may be particularly useful in middle adulthood and the transition to older adulthood before the onset of cognitive impairment.

Personality and Risk of Arthritis in Six Longitudinal Samples.

OBJECTIVES: Personality traits are broadly related to medical conditions, but there is limited research on the association with the risk of arthritis. This multicohort study examines the concurrent and prospective associations between personality traits and arthritis risk. METHODS: Participants (N > 45,000) were mostly middle-aged and older adults from 6 established longitudinal cohorts. Baseline assessments of personality traits, covariates (age, sex, education, race, ethnicity, depressive symptoms, body mass index, and smoking), and arthritis diagnosis were obtained in each sample. Arthritis incidence was assessed over 8-20 years of follow-up. RESULTS: The meta-analyses identified an association between higher neuroticism and an increased risk of concurrent (odds ratio = 1.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.16-1.24; p < .001, I2 = 40.27) and incident (hazard ratio = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.08-1.14; p < .001, I2 = 0) arthritis and between higher conscientiousness and a decreased risk of concurrent (odds ratio = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.86-0.90; p < .001, I2 = 0) and incident (hazard ratio = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.92-0.98; p = .002, I2 = 41.27) arthritis. Higher extraversion was linked to lower risk of concurrent (odds ratio = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.88-0.96; p < .001, I2 = 76.09) and incident (hazard ratio = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.95-0.99; p = .018, I2 = 0) arthritis, and openness was related to lower risk of concurrent arthritis (odds ratio = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.93-0.99; p = .006, I2 = 35.86). Agreeableness was unrelated to arthritis. These associations were partially accounted for by depressive symptoms, body mass index, and smoking. There was no consistent evidence of moderation by age or sex. DISCUSSION: Findings from 6 samples point to low neuroticism and higher conscientiousness as factors that reduce the risk of arthritis.

Purpose in Life and Risk of Falls: A Meta-Analysis of Cross-Sectional and Prospective Associations.

Background and Aim: Purpose in life is an aspect of well-being that is associated with better health outcomes in older adulthood. We examine the association between purpose in life and likelihood of a recent fall and risk of an incident fall over time. Methods: Purpose in life and falls were reported concurrently and falls were reported again up to 16 years later in four established longitudinal studies of older adults (total N = 25,418). Results: A random-effects meta-analysis of the four samples indicated that purpose was associated with a 14% lower likelihood of having fallen recently at baseline (meta-analytic OR = 0.88, 95% CI [0.84-0.92]). Among participants who reported no falls at baseline (N = 15,632), purpose was associated with a nearly 10% lower risk of an incident fall over the up to 16-year follow-up (meta-analytic HR = 0.92, 95% CI [0.90-0.94]). These associations were independent of age, sex, race, ethnicity, and education, were not moderated by these factors, and persisted controlling for physical activity and disease burden. Conclusion and Recommendations: Purpose in life is a meaningful aspect of well-being that may be useful to identify individuals at risk for falling, particularly among individuals without traditional risk factors, and be a target of intervention to reduce fall risk.

Purpose in life and cognitive health: a 28-year prospective study.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the prospective association between purpose in life measured at three points across middle and older adulthood and cognitive outcomes assessed 8-28 years later. DESIGN: Prospective Study. SETTING: Wisconsin Longitudinal Study of Aging (WLS). PARTICIPANTS: WLS participants who reported on their purpose in life at Round 4 (1992-1994; Mage = 52.58), Round 5 (2003-2007; Mage = 63.74), and/or Round 6 (2010-2012; Mage = 70.25) and were administered a cognitive battery at Round 7 (2020; Mage = 79.94) were included in the analysis (N = 4,632). MEASUREMENTS: Participants completed the Ryff measure of purpose in life and were administered the telephone interview for cognitive status and measures of verbal fluency, digit ordering, and numeric reasoning. RESULTS: Purpose in life measured at age 52 was related to better global cognitive function and verbal fluency but unrelated to dementia at age 80. In contrast, purpose in life at ages 63-70 was associated with lower likelihood of dementia, as well as better global cognitive function and verbal fluency at age 80. The effect sizes were modest (median Beta coefficient = .05; median odds ratio = .85). A slightly steeper decline in purpose in life between ages 52 and 70 was found for individuals with dementia at age 80. CONCLUSIONS: Purpose in life is associated with healthier cognitive function measured up to 28 years later. Individuals with lower purpose, especially in their 60s or older, and with steeper declines in purpose, are more likely to have dementia at age 80.

The Association between Happiness and Cognitive Function in the UK Biobank.

Feelings of happiness have been associated with better performance in creative and flexible thinking and processing. Less is known about whether happier individuals have better performance on basic cognitive functions and slower rate of cognitive decline. In a large sample from the UK Biobank (N=17,885; Age 40-70 years), we examine the association between baseline happiness and cognitive function (speed of processing, visuospatial memory, reasoning) over four assessment waves spanning up to 10 years of follow-up. Greater happiness was associated with better speed and visuospatial memory performance across assessments independent of vascular or depression risk factors. Happiness was associated with worse reasoning. No association was found between happiness and the rate of change over time on any of the cognitive tasks. The cognitive benefits of happiness may extend to cognitive functions such as speed and memory but not more complex processes such as reasoning, and happiness may not be predictive of the rate of cognitive decline over time. More evidence on the association between psychological well-being and different cognitive functions is needed to shed light on potential interventional efforts.