Highlight
- •What is the primary question addressed by this study?
- •Do the significant correlates of Purpose-in-Life (PiL) differ between White and Black populations within the United States?
- •What is the main finding of this study?
- •In independent analyses using machine learning approach, 12 of 34 different sociodemographic and psychosocial factors were associated with PiL in both Black and White participants.
- •What is the meaning of the finding?
- •These findings suggest that hopelessness, perceived constraint on personal control, self-mastery, positive affect, and optimism, among others, are critical determinants PiL for both Black and White individuals.
Abstract
Background
Purpose-in-life (PiL) refers to the tendency to derive meaning and purpose from daily
life experiences. Individuals with higher PiL were more likely to have better physical,
mental, and cognitive health in prospective studies. Here, we aimed to identify important
correlates of PiL among people of diverse backgrounds.
Methods
Participants were recruited by the population-based Health and Retirement Study and
provided information on 34 different sociodemographic and psychosocial factors through
psychometrically validated measures. To identify important correlates of PiL, we employed
regularized regression implemented by Elastic Net on the entire cohort as well as
among self-identified Black participants only and White participants only, respectively.
Results
A total of 6620 participants were included in this study, among whom 913 were Black
and 5707 were White. We identified 12 and 23 important sociodemographic and psychosocial
correlates of PiL among Black and White participants, respectively. Notably, all the
12 correlates in Black participants were also correlates among White participants.
Interestingly, when we examined both Black and White participants together, being
Black was associated with having higher PiL. The correlates with the largest effect
on PiL that were shared among Black and White participants were hopelessness, perceived
constraint on personal control, and self-mastery.
Conclusion
Several sociodemographic and psychosocial factors most strongly associated with PiL
were shared among Black and White participants. Future studies should investigate
whether interventions targeting correlates of PiL can lead to higher sense of life
purpose in participants of diverse backgrounds.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
March 7,
2023
Received in revised form:
March 2,
2023
Received:
October 14,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Journal Pre-ProofIdentification
Copyright
© 2023 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry.
