title: Life satisfaction and use of preventive health care services.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although a growing body of research shows that life satisfaction is linked with enhanced health behaviors and physical health, no study has examined life satisfaction's association with use of preventive health care services. From prior research the authors hypothesized that people with higher life satisfaction would be more proactive in taking care of their health, hence more likely to use preventive health care services.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multiple logistic regression models were used to examine the association between life satisfaction and preventive services. Participants were drawn from the Health and Retirement Study, a prospective and nationally representative panel study of adults (age >50). Participants' use of preventive services was collected over 2 years of follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In models adjusting for sociodemographic factors, each standard deviation increase in life satisfaction was associated with a higher likelihood that people would obtain a cholesterol test. Further, women with higher life satisfaction were more likely to obtain a mammogram-x-ray or pap smear and also regularly check their breasts for lumps, whereas men were more likely to obtain a prostate exam.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher life satisfaction was associated with higher use of several preventive services. A growing body of randomized controlled trials targeting life satisfaction has shown that levels of life satisfaction are modifiable. Thus, if these findings are replicated, life satisfaction may provide an important target for interventions aimed at enhancing preventive behaviors and health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Eric S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health.
authors.forename: Laura D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Kubzansky
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Jacqui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies