Changes in optimism and subsequent health and wellbeing outcomes in older adults: an outcome-wide analysis

This study examined whether changes in optimism in older adulthood are associated with subsequent health and wellbeing outcomes.

Longitudinal data are from the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative sample of U.S. older adults (N = 12,998, 2006/2008 to 2014/2016 waves). To evaluate changes in optimism, we examined optimism assessed in 2010/2012 and adjusted for optimism assessed 4 years earlier in 2006/2008 in regression models, which, under the specified statistical models, is equivalent to assessing changes in optimism during the 4-year interval. We examined 35 outcomes assessed in 2014/2016, including: indicators of physical health, health behaviors, psychological distress, psychological wellbeing, and social factors.

Increases in optimism (e.g. from the lowest to highest quartile) were favorably associated with several physical health outcomes such as a reduced risk of mortality (relative risk [RR] = 0.76; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.62, 0.94) and better self-rated health, but were not associated with specific disease outcomes (e.g. diabetes, stroke) or health behaviors. Increased optimism was also inversely associated with all psychological distress indicators and positively associated with multiple aspects of psychosocial wellbeing.

An optimistic mindset may be desirable in its own right. Increased optimism may also enhance health and wellbeing among older adults.