Open AccessPurpose in Life and Cognition Interact to Impact Healthcare and Financial Decision Making in Old Age
Author(s) -
Christopher C. Stewart,
Lei Yu,
Crystal M Glover,
David A. Bennett,
Robert S. Wilson,
Patricia A. Boyle
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
journal of applied gerontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.857
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1552-4523
pISSN - 0733-4648
DOI - 10.1177/07334648221095514
Subject(s) - cognition , dementia , psychology , need for cognition , scale (ratio) , health care , gerontology , medicine , disease , physics , pathology , quantum mechanics , neuroscience , economics , economic growth
Objectives: Little is known about the contribution of positive psychological factors, such as purpose in life, to healthcare and financial decision making in aging. Here, we examined the relationship between purpose and decision making and tested the hypothesis that purpose benefits decision making, particularly when cognition is limited. Methods: Participants were 1081 community-based older adults without dementia. Healthcare and financial decision making was measured via a 12-item performance-based instrument. Purpose was measured via a 10-item scale. Results: In a linear regression model adjusted for age, sex, and education, higher global cognition was associated with better performance on the decision making measure, as expected. Purpose was not directly related to decision making. However, the interaction of purpose with cognition was significant, such that greater purpose was associated with better decision making among persons with lower cognition. Discussion: Purpose in life may promote better decision making among older adults with lower cognition.