A1 Journal article (refereed)
Purpose in life and slow walking speed : cross-sectional and longitudinal associations (2024)

Sutin, A. R., Cajuste, S., Stephan, Y., Luchetti, M., Kekäläinen, T., & Terracciano, A. (2024). Purpose in life and slow walking speed : cross-sectional and longitudinal associations. GeroScience, Early online. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-024-01073-8

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Sutin, Angelina R.; Cajuste, Sabrina; Stephan, Yannick; Luchetti, Martina; Kekäläinen, Tiia; Terracciano, Antonio

Journal or series: GeroScience

ISSN: 2509-2715

eISSN: 2509-2723

Publication year: 2024

Publication date: 25/01/2024

Volume: Early online

Publisher: Springer

Publication country: Switzerland

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-024-01073-8

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: 

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/94171

Abstract

The present research examines the association between purpose in life – a component of well-being defined as the feeling that one’s life is goal-oriented and has direction – and slow walking speed and the risk of developing slow walking speed over time. Participants (N = 18,825) were from three established longitudinal studies of older adults. At baseline, participants reported on their purpose in life, and interviewers measured their usual walking speed. Walking speed was measured at annual or biannual follow-up waves up to 16 years later. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to summarize the estimates from the individual studies. Every standard deviation higher in purpose in life (as a continuous measure) was associated with a lower likelihood of cross-sectional slow walking speed at baseline (meta-analytic OR = .80, 95% CI = .77–.83). Among participants who did not have slow walking speed at baseline (n = 8,448), every standard deviation higher purpose in life was associated with a lower likelihood of developing slow walking speed over the up to 16 years of follow-up (meta-analytic HR = .93, 95% CI = .89–.96). Physical activity and disease burden accounted for 25% and 14% of the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations, respectively. The associations were independent of age, sex, race, ethnicity, and education and not moderated by these factors. Higher purpose in life is associated with a lower risk of slow walking speed and a lower risk of developing slow walking speed over time. Purpose in life is a psychological resource that may help to support aspects of physical function, such as walking speed, and may help support better function with age.

Keywords: walking (motion); velocity; meaning of life; well-being; psychological factors; physical functioning; health; ageing; tracking; measurement; meta-analysis

Free keywords: purpose; meaning; gait speed; walking; prospective; meta-analysis

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Preliminary JUFO rating: 1