6533b835fe1ef96bd129ec48
RESEARCH PRODUCT
HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FUNCTIONING AS DETERMINANTS OF PURPOSE IN LIFE IN OLD AGE
Taina RantanenKatja KokkoMilla SaajanahoErja Portegijssubject
GerontologyHealth (social science)media_common.quotation_subjectShort Physical Performance BatteryHealth Professions (miscellaneous)Meaningful lifeAbstractsPhysical functioningFeelingMarital statusFunctional statusMeaning (existential)Life-span and Life-course StudiesPsychologyPurpose in lifemedia_commondescription
AbstractPurpose in life reflects the feeling of having goals and meaning in life. Higher purpose in life has been shown to predict better health outcomes in old age and even buffer against mortality. However, it is not known how current health and functional status reflect on the possibilities of older people to live a meaningful life. Therefore, this study aimed to explore associations of health and physical functioning with purpose in life. The participants were 273 community-dwelling 75-year-old men and women from the AGNES study. Purpose in life was assessed with the subscale of the Scales of Psychological well-being (range 7–42). Current health situation and walking ability were self-reported (range 1–5). Physical performance was measured with the Short Physical Performance Battery (range 0–12). Linear regression models adjusted for sex, years of education and marital status were used in the analyses. Better self-rated health (β=1.49, p<.001) and self-reported walking ability (β=0.69, p=.016) were associated with higher purpose in life. Physical performance was not associated with purpose in life (β=0.19, p=.187). Based on the results, it seems that self-reports of health and functioning may be more relevant when considering older people’s possibilities to live a meaningful life than objective measures of functioning.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-11-01 |