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Highlighting and Reducing the Impact of Negative Aging Stereotypes During Older Adults' Cognitive Testing
Published on: January 24, 2020
Comparative optimism in older adults' future health expectations
Karen Vanderzanden1, Joelle C Ruthig2
1School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA.
British Journal of Health Psychology
|May 15, 2018
Summary
Many older adults maintain optimistic future health estimates (FHEs), often due to pessimism about others. This optimism, however, declines over time and better personal FHEs predict longer survival.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Health Psychology
- Longitudinal Studies
Background:
- Older adults often believe health declines with age, yet many remain optimistic about their own future health.
- The longitudinal impact of personal and comparative optimistic future health estimates (FHEs) in older adults remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence, sources, and stability of optimistic future health estimates (FHEs) in older adults.
- To examine correlates of comparative FHEs.
- To assess the role of FHEs in predicting long-term survival.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 408 older adults (mean age 70.32 years).
- Assessed prevalence, source, and two-year stability of comparative FHEs.
- Examined demographic, psychosocial, and health correlates, and eight-year survival odds.
Main Results:
- Nearly half of participants exhibited comparative optimism, often driven by pessimism about others.
- Comparative optimism declined over two years.
- Younger age, perceived control, dispositional optimism, and positive emotions were linked to better FHEs.
- Optimistic personal FHEs predicted eight-year survival, independent of other factors.
Conclusions:
- Optimistic future health estimates (FHEs) are common in older adults but decline longitudinally.
- Interpersonal pessimism is a key source of comparative optimism.
- Personal FHEs are significant predictors of long-term survival in older populations.
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