Longitudinal Trajectories of Multimorbidity and Psychosocial Resilience Resources in Midlife and Older Adults: Findings From the Health and Retirement Study

Abstract

Introduction

This study identified 10-year multimorbidity trajectories among midlife and older adults and examined whether psychosocial resilience resources are associated with trajectory group membership.

Methods

Using Health and Retirement Study data (2010–2020; n = 10,325), repeated measures latent profile analysis characterized trajectories based on the multimorbidity-weighted index (MWI). Resilience resources included psychological resilience, positive emotional support, and social participation. Associations were assessed using multinomial logistic regression.

Results

Four trajectories emerged: “Stable Low Burden” (36.8%); “Slow Progressors” (39.8%); “Rapid Risers” (18.3%); and “High Burden Super Accelerators” (5.1%). Higher psychological resilience, social participation, and emotional support were associated with lower risk of adverse trajectory group membership. Psychological resilience showed the strongest association. Individuals in the highest tertile had markedly lower risk of being in the “High Burden Super Accelerator” group (RRR = 0.19; 95% CI: 0.13–0.29).

Conclusions

Resilience resources were associated with more favorable multimorbidity trajectories and may buffer chronic disease accumulation over time.