Optimism and depression as predictors of physical and mental health functioning: The normative aging study

Dispositional optimism has been linked in previous studies to better health outcomes. We sought to examine the independent associations of disposition al optimism and depressive symptoms with physical and mental functioning in a cohort of healthy middle-aged and older men. The study was conducted amo ng 659 subjects in the Veterans Administration (VA) Normative Aging Study. Dispositional optimism and depressive symptomatology were measured in 1991 and 1990, respectively, by the Life Orientation Test and the Center for Epi demiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D). The dependent variables, funct ioning and well-being, were measured in 1992 by the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). In multivariate regression models, optimi sm was associated with higher levels of general health perceptions, vitalit y, and mental health, and lower levels of bodily pain, but not to physical functioning, social functioning, or role limitations due to physical or emo tional problems. Depressive symptomatology was associated with reduced leve ls of functioning across all SF-36 domains. The findings for optimism and d epression were statistically significant after mutual adjustment in multiva riate regression models. Optimism and depression are independent predictors of functional status among aging men.