Positive attitudes towards aging are associated with delayed mortality at 10 years: A population-based study...

The aging of populations is accelerating globally, posing scientific and societal challenges. Beyond physical health factors, there is a need to map the psychosocial determinants of mortality in older adults. This study examines the impact of life satisfaction (LS), positive attitudes toward aging (PA), and negative emotionality (NE) on 10-year mortality risk.

A total of 2,271 community-dwelling older adults from the Neurological Disorders in Central Spain population-based cohort were included in the study. Participants were comprehensively assessed, including an examination of diverse chronic conditions, health habits, and psychological well-being (i.e., the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale). Associations between psychological well-being factors (LS, PA, and NE) were examined using adjusted Cox regression models. Two-way interaction analyses were also performed to test moderator effects of main covariates (age, sex, diabetes, alcohol, and functional status) on the association between PA and mortality.

Only PA, but not LS or NE, was associated with lower 10-year mortality risk in the fully adjusted Cox model (hazard ratio = 0.89, 95% confidence interval [0.83, 0.94], p < .001). The PA effect was robust even when neurological conditions were excluded in the sensitivity analysis. Age reached a statistical tendency as a moderator (hazard ratio = 1.01, 95% confidence interval [1.00, 1.02], p = .03), indicating that the PA effect is slightly higher at younger ages.

PA is associated with a lower mortality risk over a 10-year follow-up. Our findings suggest a complex interplay of physical and psychosocial factors in explaining mortality risk in older adults. Health-related policies targeting older adults should consider PA as a key factor in reducing mortality. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).