Purpose in life and c-reactive protein: An individual-participant meta-analysis of >50,000 adults.

ABSTRACT: Purpose in life is associated consistently with better health outcomes, which may be due in part to healthier inflammatory profiles. The present research used seven independent cohort studies (total N = 54,491) to evaluate the association between purpose in life and c-reactive protein (CRP), sociodemographic moderators of the association, and whether purpose is associated with elevated CRP cross-sectionally and longitudinally (three cohorts with longitudinal data). Purpose in life had a modest but consistent association with concurrent CRP (meta-analytic b=-.05, 95 % CI=-.06, -.04, p < .001). The association was apparent across age, sex, race, and education, but was slightly stronger among males and relatively younger participants. Purpose was associated cross-sectionally with lower likeli

SUBMITTER: Sutin AR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12624568 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature