People with a greater sense of purpose use more preventive healthcare services.
Having a purpose in life is associated with lower morbidity and greater longevity (NEJM JW Psychiatry May 22 2014). These researchers examined whether individuals with a stronger sense of purpose are more likely to use preventive healthcare services during a 6-year follow-up. The 7168 participants over age 50 completed seven items on “purpose in life” from the Psychological Well-Being scale. The researchers also tracked self-reported use of six preventive services, overnight hospital stays, and baseline health factors, including psychiatric disorders, and behaviors (smoking, alcohol use, exercise).
Having a greater purpose in life was associated with increased use of five preventive tests (cholesterol test, colonoscopy, mammography, Pap smea…
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresRoyaltiesTextbook of Traumatic Brain Injury, 2nd and 3rd editions
Editorial BoardsUpToDate; Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNorth American Brain Injury Association (Board Member); National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (Chair of Data Monitoring Safety Board for study of donepezil on cognition after traumatic brain injury)
DisclosuresRoyaltiesTextbook of Traumatic Brain Injury, 2nd and 3rd editions
Editorial BoardsUpToDate; Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNorth American Brain Injury Association (Board Member); National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (Chair of Data Monitoring Safety Board for study of donepezil on cognition after traumatic brain injury)