title: Optimism and Planning for Future Care Needs among Older Adults.
abstract: Aging is associated with an increase in need for assistance. Preparation for future care (PFC) is related to improved coping ability as well as better mental and physical health outcomes among older adults. We examined the association of optimism with components of PFC among older adults. We also explored race differences in the relationship between optimism and PFC. In Study 1, multiple regression showed that optimism was positively related to concrete planning. In Study 2, optimism was related to gathering information. An exploratory analysis combining the samples yielded a race interaction: For Whites higher optimism, but for Blacks lower optimism was associated with more planning. High optimism may be a barrier to future planning in certain social and cultural contexts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sörensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA ; Department of Psychology, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Jameson K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Hirsch
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lyness
keywords: avoidance; decision making and planning beliefs; future care planning; optimism; race differences