The Life Skills of Older Americans: Association with Economic, Psychological, Social, and Health Outcomes.

ABSTRACT: Studies of children and adolescents indicate that success in life is determined in part by attributes such as conscientiousness, emotional stability and sense of control, independently of childhood socioeconomic status and cognitive ability. Less is known about the role of these characteristics at older ages. This study investigated the relationship of five life skills - conscientiousness, emotional stability, persistence, optimism and sense of control - with a range of outcomes in 8,843 participants (mean age 72.57 years) in the Health and Retirement Study, a representative study of older Americans. More life skills were associated with greater wealth and income, better emotional wellbeing, stronger social relationships, less loneliness, better health, fewer chronic illnesses and impaired

SUBMITTER: Steptoe A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6033934 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature