Singer Kim Yeon-ja sang in the popular song ‘Amor Party’, saying, “Age is a number, the heart is real.” Recalling this, those 50 and older who were the most satisfied with aging had a much lower risk of dying than those who were the least satisfied.
A study from the University of British Columbia, Canada. The research team investigated the effects of positive thinking regarding aging on an individual’s physical health, health behaviors, and psychological well-being in regarding 14,000 American adults 50 years of age or older. The results showed that people with the highest satisfaction with aging had a 43% lower risk of dying from any cause during four years of follow-up than those with the lowest satisfaction.
In addition, middle-aged and older men and women who are more satisfied with aging have a much lower risk of diabetes, stroke, cancer, heart disease, and improved cognitive function. People with more positive attitudes regarding getting older were more likely to engage in physical activity more frequently and had a lower risk of developing sleep problems than those who did not. They were also less lonely, less depressed, more optimistic, and more purposeful.
“There is a close relationship between thinking and healthy behavior,” said Eric Kim, assistant professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia, the study’s lead author. For example, older people tend to use preventive health care less often than younger or middle-aged adults, but the more satisfied they are with aging over the age of 50, the more likely they are to get a cholesterol test, as well as breast, cervical, and prostate cancer tests. this is higher However, if you believe that your health inevitably deteriorates with age, there is a risk that this may become a self-fulfilling prophecy that prevents you from taking actions that are conducive to aging, Professor Kim said. He is also a researcher at the Center for Health and Happiness at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Public Health.
According to the research team, to have a more positive attitude toward aging, you must maintain a sense of purpose, recognize and reject negative messages regarding aging, maintain social activities, and find new ones.
To have a positive attitude toward aging, find a project that matches your values even following retirement. For example, if your top priority is in your family, you can find a job that helps your family, such as taking care of your grandchildren, and if you value the environment, you can find a project related to it. Volunteering is a great way to maintain a sense of purpose. The results of this study (Associations Between Satisfaction With Aging and Health and Well-being Outcomes Among Older US Adults) were published in the JAMA Network Open and were introduced by the American health media ‘Health Day’.
By Kim Young-seop, staff reporter edwdkim@kormedi.com
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