Optimism, Self-Compassion, Income Tied to Better Mental Health in Older Adults

A study from the University of California (UC) San Diego School of Medicine published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry assessed older adults living independently in a senior continuing care community, and observed a correlation between physical health and both cognitive function and mental health, reports Psych Central . The researchers found substantial linkage between cognitive function and physical mobility, wisdom, and satisfaction with life. Physical health was tied to mental well-being, resilience, and youth, while mental health was associated with optimism, self-compassion, income, less loneliness, and fewer sleep disruptions. "Psychological traits like optimism, resilience, wisdom, and self-compassion were found to be protective, while loneliness seemed to be a risk factor," said UC San Diego School of Medicine Professor Dilip Jeste. "An 85-year-old can be functioning better than a 65-year-old due to protective and risk factors." Jeste stressed the need for further research to learn if psychosocial and other forces are potential risks or protective factors. "The eventual goal would be to develop new health-focused interventions based on such research," he noted.