title: Purpose in life and reduced risk of myocardial infarction among older U.S. adults with coronary heart disease: a two-year follow-up.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, 2250 East Hall, 530 Church Street, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-1043, USA. kimeric@umich.edu
authors.forename: Eric S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jennifer K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Nansook
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Laura D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Kubzansky
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peterson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States