What is the best predictor of longevity? I have not reviewed current research but a study I read many years ago I have never forgotten. It was published in 1969 in The Gerontologist. The primary author, Erdman Palmore, went on to establish himself as one of the greatest researchers in longevity and life satisfaction studies. A professor emeritus of medical sociology at Duke University, he has received many honors in gerontology and remains active in his 80s.
The study I recall was a report from the First Duke Longitudinal Study of Aging. Palmore and his associates studied people over many years late in life. They began by interviewing and gathering data from over 200 people 60 to 64 years of age. Fifteen years later they checked to see how many had died. For those still living they estimated their remaining years using actuarial tables. The question Palmore was trying to answer is what is the best predictor on how long a person will live? Is it health activities? Education? Occupation? Tobacco use?
The results were stunning. The single best predictor was job satisfaction. Those people who fifteen years before had reported that they felt useful and were doing meaningful work, these were the people most likely to live longer. Job satisfaction in the latter part of one’s work life was highly correlated with the longevity of that life.
People who are happy in their jobs are more likely to be happy overall in their lives. And all things being equal, perhaps have a higher probability of a longer life.
Palmore, E. (1969). Predicting longevity: a follow-up controlling for age. The Gerontologist, 9, 247-250.
Image of St. Elias Range. © John Ballard, 2013. All rights reserved.
The study I recall was a report from the First Duke Longitudinal Study of Aging. Palmore and his associates studied people over many years late in life. They began by interviewing and gathering data from over 200 people 60 to 64 years of age. Fifteen years later they checked to see how many had died. For those still living they estimated their remaining years using actuarial tables. The question Palmore was trying to answer is what is the best predictor on how long a person will live? Is it health activities? Education? Occupation? Tobacco use?
The results were stunning. The single best predictor was job satisfaction. Those people who fifteen years before had reported that they felt useful and were doing meaningful work, these were the people most likely to live longer. Job satisfaction in the latter part of one’s work life was highly correlated with the longevity of that life.
People who are happy in their jobs are more likely to be happy overall in their lives. And all things being equal, perhaps have a higher probability of a longer life.
Palmore, E. (1969). Predicting longevity: a follow-up controlling for age. The Gerontologist, 9, 247-250.
Image of St. Elias Range. © John Ballard, 2013. All rights reserved.
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