Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37081423›Full record

ArticleBMC geriatrics2023

Subjective expectation of reaching age 85: agreement with population statistics and association with behavioral and psychological factors.

Subash Thapa, Jesper B Nielsen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC geriatrics, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Subash ThapaResearch Unit of General Practice, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9, 5000, Odense, Denmark. sthapa@health.sdu.dk.ORCID 0000-0002-1182-8511
Jesper B NielsenResearch Unit of General Practice, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9, 5000, Odense, Denmark.ORCID 0000-0002-5764-5462

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIt is not clearly known how well Danes estimate their chances of reaching the average life expectancy and whether identifiable population subgroups misestimate their life expectancy, and potentially also investments and savings in health and pensions. Therefore, in this study, we examined on the individual level whether subjective life expectancy is in line with the statistically calculated chance of reaching age 85, and further explored the psychological and behavioral factors associated with under or overestimation.

methodsWe opted for a cross-sectional survey design based on a sample of 5,379 Danish citizens aged 50-70 years, returning a web-based questionnaire with socio-demographic data supplemented from a national registry. Average participant estimates of their chance of reaching age 85 for each age range and sex group were compared with actuarial data. We then performed multiple linear regression analyses to examine factors associated with the subjective expectancy of reaching age 85 years.

resultsWe found that 32% of females and 23% of males reported 100% certainty of reaching age 85, and average expected survival chance exceeded the statistically predicted survival chance for 23% of males and 16% for females in age-ranges 50-60 and 61-70. Our multivariable analysis found that health literacy, internal health locus of control, willingness to take health risks, self-rated health, and health and life satisfaction all showed a significant positive association with expectation of reaching age 85. Moreover, those on daily medications, ex- or current smokers, and heavy drinkers were significantly less optimistic about reaching age 85.

conclusionsParticularly for the population groups with inaccurate life expectancies, the significant associations with psychological and behavioral factors open a way for initiatives based on behavior change theories to reach a better agreement between subjective and statistical life expectancy.

Indexed as

Life ExpectancyMotivationCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMalePensionsSurveys and QuestionnairesBiopsychosocial frameworkDecade of healthy agingHealth literacyHealthy agingInternal locus of controlLife expectancyOptimismPensions and savingSubjective life expectation

Identifiers

PMID37081423
PMCPMC10120199

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.