The study reports on factors predicting the longevity of 328 people over the age of 65 drawn from an English city and followed over 20 years. Both the reported activities score and the individual's comparative evaluation of their own level of activity independently reduced the risk of death, even when health and cognitive status were taken into account. The analysis has provided a strong test of the relevance of measures of reported activity and measures of self-perception to longevity. The study confirms the important predictive role of reported activity levels even when detailed health measures are taken into account. But in addition personal perception of one's own relative level of activity, and to a lesser extent subjective assessment of health, also predicted longevity.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BaldockJ., & HadlowJ. (2002). Self-talk versus needs-talk: An exploration of the priorities of housebound older people. Quality in Ageing, 3, 42–48.
2.
BeckA. T. (1976). Cognitive therapy and the emotional disorders. New York: International Universities Press.
3.
BlackburnH.KeysA.SimonsonE.RautharjuP., & PinsayS. (1960). The electrocardiogram in population studies. A classification system. Circulation, 21, 1160–1175.
4.
BrownD. R. (1992). Physical activity, aging, and psychological wellbeing: An overview of the research. Canadian Journal of Sports Science, 17, 185–193.
5.
ChristmasC., & AndersenR. A. (2000). Exercise and older patients: Guidelines for the clinician. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 48, 318–324.
6.
ColemanP. G. (1974). Measuring reminiscence characteristics from conversation as adaptive features of old age. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 5, 281–294.
7.
ColemanP. G. (1976). Psychological measures of well-being and predictors of well-being. Report of the first observation in a longitudinal study of relocation of the elderly. Report 45, Nijmegen, The Netherlands: Gerontological Centre.
8.
ColemanP. G. (1984). Assessing self-esteem and its sources in elderly people. Ageing and Society, 4, 117–135.
9.
ColemanP. G. (1987). Dimensions of subjective well-being in the elderly: Conclusions from Dutch and English studies. Comprehensive Gerontology, 1, 8–12.
10.
ColemanP. G.AubinA.RobinsonM.Ivani-ChalianC., & BriggsR. S. (1993a). Predictors of depressive symptoms and low self-esteem in a follow-up study of elderly people over ten years. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 8, 343–349.
11.
ColemanP. G.Ivani-ChalianC., & RobinsonM. (1993b). Self-esteem and its sources: Stability and change in later life. Ageing in Society, 13, 171–192.
12.
ColemanP. G.Ivani-ChalianC., & RobinsonM. (1998). The story continues: Persistence of life themes in old age. Ageing and Society, 18, 389–419.
13.
ColemanP. G.Ivani-ChalianC., & RobinsonM. (1999). Self and identity in advanced old age: Validation of theory through longitudinal case analysis. Journal of Personality, 69, 819–848.
14.
CummingR. G.SalkeldG.ThomasG., & SzonyiG. (2000). Prospective study of the impact of fear of falling on activities of daily living, SF-36 scores, and nursing homes admission. Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, 55A, M299–M305.
15.
DeegD. J. H.Van ZonneveldR. J.Van der MaasP. J., & HabbemaJ. (1989). Medical and social predictors of longevity in the elderly: Total predictive value and interdependence. Social Science and Medicine, 29, 1271–1280.
16.
FentemP. H.TurnbullN. B., & BasseyE. J. (1990). Benefits of exercise: The evidence. Manchester, UK: University of Manchester Press.
17.
FinucaneP.GilesL. C., & WithersR. T. (1997). Exercise profile and subsequent mortality in an elderly Australian population. Australia and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 21, 155–158.
18.
HallM. R.BriggsR. S.MacLennanW. J.MarcerD.RobinsonM. J., & EverettF. M. (1983). The effects of procaine/haematoporphyrin on aged-related decline: A double blind trial. Age and Ageing, 12, 302–308.
19.
HendersonK. A., & AinsworthB. E. (2003). A synthesis of perceptions about physical activity among older African American and American Indian women. American Journal of Public Health, 93, 313–317.
20.
KuypersJ. A., & BengtsonV. L. (1973) Social breakdown and competence. A model of normal ageing. Human Development, 16, 181–201.
21.
LennartssonC., & SilversteinM. (2001). Does engagement with life enhance survival of elderly people in Sweden? The role of social and leisure activities. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 56B, S335–S342.
22.
LevyB. R.SladeM. D.KunkelS. R., & KaslS. V. (2002). Longevity increased by positive self-perceptions of aging. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 83, 261–270.
23.
MaierH., & SmithJ. (1999). Psychological predictors of mortality in old age. Journal of Gerontology, 54B, P44–P54.
24.
MertensF., & WimmersM. (1987). Life-style of older people: Improvement or threat to their health. Ageing and Society, 7, 329–343.
25.
MorganK., & BathP. A. (1998). Customary physical activity and psychological well-being: A longitudinal study. Age and Ageing, 27-S3, 35–40.
26.
MorganK., & ClarkeD. (1997). Customary physical activity and survival in later life: A study in Nottingham, UK. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 51, 490–493.
27.
NeugartenB. L.HavighurstR. J., & TobinS. S. (1961). The measurement of life satisfaction. Journal of Gerontology, 16, 134–143.
28.
O'ConnorB. P., & VallerandR. J. (1998). Psychological adjustment variables as predictors of mortality among nursing home residents. Psychology and Aging, 13, 368–374.
29.
O'HanlonA., & ColemanP. G. (2004). Attitudes towards aging: Adaptation, development and growth into later years. In NussbaumJ. F. & CouplandJ. (Eds.), Handbook of communication and aging research (2nd ed., pp. 31–63). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associations.
30.
RoseG. A., & BlackburnH. (1968). Cardiovascular survey methods. World Health Organization Monograph Series, No. 56.
31.
ShahtahmasebiS.DaviesR., & WengerG. C. (1992). A longitudinal analysis of factors related to survival in old age. Gerontologist, 32, 404–413.
32.
SnaithR. P.AhmedS. W., & MeierP. (1971). Assessment of the severity of primary depressive illness. Psychological Medicine, 1, 143–149.
33.
VaupelJ. W.CareyJ. R.ChristensenK.JohnsonT. E.YashinA. I.HolmN. V. (1998). Biodemographic trajectories of longevity. Science, 280, 855–860.
34.
WimmersM. (1971). Ouderdomsbeleving: Evaluatie van eigen leven en levensomstandigheden door oudere mensen. Report. Nijmegen, The Netherlands: Gerontological Centre.
35.
WimmersM.BuijssenH., & MertensG. (1989). Welbevinden van ouderen na verhuizing. Gegevens van een longitudinaal onderzoek. In MunnichsJ. & UildriksG. (Eds.), Psychogerontologie. Deventer, The Netherlands: Van Loghum Slaterus.
