Survey: Sense of Optimism Linked to the Perceived Mental and Physical Health of Seniors
October 04 2017 - 8:00AM
Business Wire
Those who identified as ‘most optimistic’
report feeling 12.5 years younger than their actual age
According to new findings from Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM), aging
Americans who are more optimistic report having better health. A
quantitative survey of 2,000 people aged 60 or over found 87
percent of seniors who identify themselves as most optimistic
reported their health as good to excellent, compared to 44 percent
of those who identified themselves as least optimistic.
Additionally, the most optimistic respondents reported nine fewer
physically unhealthy and seven fewer mentally unhealthy days per
month than their least optimistic counterparts.
“This is the second year Humana examined seniors’ attitudes
toward aging as part of our commitment to understanding the social
determinants of health,” said Dr. Yolangel Hernandez Suarez, Humana
vice president and chief medical officer for care delivery. “Once
again, optimism stood out as a key factor tied to overall health
and well-being. This continues to reinforce that embracing an
optimistic mindset is an important aspect in the health and
well-being of seniors.”
Seniors who rated themselves as most optimistic also reported
positively on other attributes linked to health, including sleep,
confidence and overall happiness. Compared to their least
optimistic counterparts, in the last week:
- 39 percent more of the most
optimistic respondents reported feeling confident
- 46 percent more reported feeling
happy
- 31 percent fewer reported having
restless sleep
Even optimists who described their health as fair or poor
reported eight fewer physically unhealthy days and seven fewer
mentally unhealthy days than their less optimistic counterparts.
Finally, while both sets of respondents indicated feeling younger
than their actual age, those who reported themselves as most
optimistic felt an average of six years younger than their least
optimistic counterparts. Those who identified themselves as most
optimistic felt 12.5 years younger than their actual age, while
those who identified as least optimistic felt an average of 4.9
years younger than their actual age.
“As a Boomer myself, I know that the majority of the decisions
about my own health take place outside of a doctor’s office,” said
Dr. Hernandez Suarez. “With the knowledge that optimism may be
linked to health and well-being, I’m focused on making positive
health decisions through all aspects of my life. Our goal with this
survey is to empower all aging Americans to approach health in the
same way.”
Key findings from the survey will be discussed today at The
Atlantic’s New Old Age forum in New York City, underwritten by
Humana. The event will feature the foremost experts on aging in
America, including Kathrine Switzer, the first female to officially
run the Boston Marathon, and Dr. Stacy L. Smith, Founder and
Director of The Media, Diversity and Social Change Initiative at
USC Annenberg. View all the panel discussions via a livestream
broadcast here.
About the Humana Quantitative
Analysis
The quantitative survey includes 2,000 responses from U.S.
adults aged 60 and older. Respondents represent a
nationally-representative sample of older adults based on U.S.
Census statistics for age, gender, geographic region, and
race/ethnicity. It was conducted between August 13- 17, 2017, and
was designed to assess perceptions of retirement, ageism and what
motivates these people to stay healthy as they age. Other data
collected include general self-assessment of health, activity
levels and perception of aging in popular culture.
About Humana
Humana Inc. is committed to helping our millions of medical and
specialty members achieve their best health. Our successful history
in care delivery and health plan administration is helping us
create a new kind of integrated care with the power to improve
health and well-being and lower costs. Our efforts are leading to a
better quality of life for people with Medicare, families,
individuals, military service personnel, and communities at
large.
To accomplish that, we support physicians and other health care
professionals as they work to deliver the right care in the right
place for their patients, our members. Our range of clinical
capabilities, resources and tools – such as in-home care,
behavioral health, pharmacy services, data analytics and wellness
solutions – combine to produce a simplified experience that makes
health care easier to navigate and more effective.
More information regarding Humana is available to investors via
the Investor Relations page of the company’s web site at
www.humana.com, including copies of:
- Annual reports to stockholders
- Securities and Exchange Commission
filings
- Most recent investor conference
presentations
- Quarterly earnings news releases and
conference calls
- Calendar of events
- Corporate Governance information
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171004005725/en/
Humana Corporate CommunicationsMark Mathis, 312-441-5010Mobile:
630-835-6651mmathis@humana.com
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