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. 2022 Aug;41(8):1887-1895.
doi: 10.1177/07334648221095514. Epub 2022 May 11.

Purpose in Life and Cognition Interact to Impact Healthcare and Financial Decision Making in Old Age

Christopher C Stewart  1 , Lei Yu  2   3 , Crystal M Glover  2   4 , David A Bennett  2   3 , Robert S Wilson  2   3   4 , Patricia A Boyle  2   4
Affiliations

Purpose in Life and Cognition Interact to Impact Healthcare and Financial Decision Making in Old Age

Christopher C Stewart et al. J Appl Gerontol. 2022 Aug.

Abstract

Objectives: Little is known about the contribution of positive psychological factors, such as purpose in life, to healthcare and financial decision making in aging. Here, we examined the relationship between purpose and decision making and tested the hypothesis that purpose benefits decision making, particularly when cognition is limited. Methods: Participants were 1081 community-based older adults without dementia. Healthcare and financial decision making was measured via a 12-item performance-based instrument. Purpose was measured via a 10-item scale. Results: In a linear regression model adjusted for age, sex, and education, higher global cognition was associated with better performance on the decision making measure, as expected. Purpose was not directly related to decision making. However, the interaction of purpose with cognition was significant, such that greater purpose was associated with better decision making among persons with lower cognition. Discussion: Purpose in life may promote better decision making among older adults with lower cognition.

Keywords: health; psychological strengths; successful aging; well-being.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose in relation to this article.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Association of purpose in life with decision making at the 10th and 50th percentiles of global cognition, with 95% confidence bands, adjusted for age, sex, and education
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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