Purpose in Life in Older Adults: A Systematic Review on Conceptualization, Measures, and Determinants
AshaRani, P Lai, Damien Koh, JingXuan Subramaniam, Mythily
Koh, JingXuan
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Abstract
Purpose in life (PIL) is a psychological construct that reflects one’s life goals and the desire or determination to pursue them. Having a purpose provides an intrinsic motivation to adopt healthy behaviors as we age, which will help us to achieve positive health outcomes. Thus, promoting PIL is the cornerstone for successful aging and better health outcomes. This systematic review aims to identify how PIL is conceptualized, measured in the existing literature and what are the determinants of PIL in older adults (≥65 years). Electronic searches were conducted in five databases (Medline, PsychInfo, Embase, CINAHL and Web of Science). A total of 44 studies were included in the review. PIL was conceptualized in six different ways: health and well-being, meaningful goals and purpose, inner strength, social relationships, mattering to others, and spirituality and religiousness. There were six main questionnaires and semi structured interviews used to capture PIL. Female gender, higher education and income, being married, ethnicity, health and well-being, inner strength, social integration and spirituality were associated with PIL. Majority of the included studies had low to moderate Risk of Bias (RoB) assuring confidence in the results. The conceptual frameworks of PIL identified in the review underscore the complexity of the construct. Several sociodemographic and other determinants of PIL were identified.
Keywords
Science & Technology, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, Environmental Sciences, Public, Environmental & Occupational Health, Environmental Sciences & Ecology, purpose in life, older adults, conceptualization, measures, determinants, AGED 85 YEARS, SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS, COGNITIVE DECLINE, SUICIDE IDEATION, ENGAGEMENT TEST, REDUCED RISK, HEALTH, COMMUNITY, DEPRESSION, DISEASE
Source Title
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
Publisher
MDPI
Series/Report No.
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Date
2022-05-01
DOI
10.3390/ijerph19105860
Type
Review