Maintaining cognitive and physical health across the adult lifespan: the contribution of psychosocial factors

Research demonstrates that demographic (e.g., age, sex), behavioral (e.g., exercise), and lifestyle (e.g., drinking habits) factors are related to individual differences in cognition and health. Although some work has examined modifiable psychosocial factors (e.g., control beliefs, purpose in life, social contact) in relation to cognition and health, they are typically examined separately. We used data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study to investigate whether a composite measure of sense of control, purpose in life, and social support assessed at the second wave (M2) would be associated with cognition (episodic memory, executive function) and health (functional health, chronic conditions) ten years later at the third wave (M3). Participants (N = 2,497) ranged from 33 to 83 years old. We created a continuous composite of sense of control, purpose in life, and social support by standardizing and summing the individual factor scores. Using multiple regression, we tested the composite as a predictor of 10 year changes in episodic memory, executive function, functional health, and chronic conditions. We found that those higher on the psychosocial composite demonstrated greater maintenance of cognition and health compared to those lower on the composite, even after controlling for demographic, behavioral, and lifestyle risk and protective factors. Education moderated the effect of the composite on functional health, such that having a higher psychosocial score was more predictive of better functional health among those with lower and moderate levels of education. We discuss the value of using a psychosocial composite measure and implications for public health.