Abstract
This study examined whether purpose in life was associated with myocardial infarction among a sample of older adults with
coronary heart disease after adjusting for relevant sociodemographic, behavioral, biological, and psychological factors. Prospective
data from the Health and Retirement Study—a nationally representative panel study of American adults over the age of 50—were
used. Analyses were conducted on the subset of 1,546 individuals who had coronary heart disease at baseline. Greater baseline
purpose in life was associated with lower odds of having a myocardial infarction during the 2-year follow-up period. On a
six-point purpose in life measure, each unit increase was associated with a multivariate-adjusted odds ratio of 0.73 for myocardial
infarction (95% CI, 0.57–0.93, P = .01). The association remained significant after controlling for coronary heart disease severity, self-rated health, and
a comprehensive set of possible confounds. Higher purpose in life may play an important role in protecting against myocardial
infarction among older American adults with coronary heart disease.
coronary heart disease after adjusting for relevant sociodemographic, behavioral, biological, and psychological factors. Prospective
data from the Health and Retirement Study—a nationally representative panel study of American adults over the age of 50—were
used. Analyses were conducted on the subset of 1,546 individuals who had coronary heart disease at baseline. Greater baseline
purpose in life was associated with lower odds of having a myocardial infarction during the 2-year follow-up period. On a
six-point purpose in life measure, each unit increase was associated with a multivariate-adjusted odds ratio of 0.73 for myocardial
infarction (95% CI, 0.57–0.93, P = .01). The association remained significant after controlling for coronary heart disease severity, self-rated health, and
a comprehensive set of possible confounds. Higher purpose in life may play an important role in protecting against myocardial
infarction among older American adults with coronary heart disease.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-10
- DOI 10.1007/s10865-012-9406-4
- Authors
- Eric S. Kim, Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, 2250 East Hall, 530 Church Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1043, USA
- Jennifer K. Sun, Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, 2250 East Hall, 530 Church Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1043, USA
- Nansook Park, Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, 2250 East Hall, 530 Church Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1043, USA
- Laura D. Kubzansky, Department of Society, Human Development, and Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Christopher Peterson, Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, 2250 East Hall, 530 Church Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1043, USA
- Journal Journal of Behavioral Medicine
- Online ISSN 1573-3521
- Print ISSN 0160-7715