title: Psychological protective factors across the lifespan: implications for psychiatry.
abstract: Although there are many challenges in operationally defining and measuring positive psychological constructs, there is accumulating evidence that optimism, resilience, positive attitudes toward aging, and spirituality are related to reduced risk for morbidity and mortality in older age. This article reviews the definition, measurement, associations, and putative mechanisms of selected positive psychological constructs on subjective and objective indicators of health with a focus on the latter half of the lifespan.
authors.affiliation: Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California-San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. ivahia@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: Ipsit V
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Vahia
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chattillion
authors.forename: Harish
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kavirajan
authors.forename: Colin A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Depp
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D001290:Attitude; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D020377:Self Efficacy; D029181:Spirituality