Meaningful' Activities May Mean Healthier Old Age

A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests older adults who pursue meaningful daily activities may sustain better health as they age, reports HealthDay News . The investigators found when middle-aged and older adults felt their days held meaningful engagement, they more often reported better health and wellbeing four years later. They were less likely to decline physically or experience chronic pain than others, and were more physically active and less likely to suffer from depression. Generally, the more meaning people perceived, the better their physical and mental health at both the beginning and conclusion of the study period. The likelihood of developing a new disease, depression, chronic pain, or a disability fell as "worthwhile" ratings subjects assigned to daily activities climbed. "We think there is a two-way relationship between our experiences and life seeming worthwhile," says University College London Professor Andrew Steptoe. "People who are socially engaged and healthy may rate their activities as more meaningful, while at the same time this sense of meaning may contribute to more engagement, better mental health, less loneliness, and so on."