Autonomous orientation predicts longevity: New findings from the Nun Study
| Autor: | Nicole Legate, William S. Ryan, Laura S Hemmy, Netta Weinstein |
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| Rok vydání: | 2018 |
| Předmět: |
Nun Study
050103 clinical psychology Nuns Social Psychology self-determination theory media_common.quotation_subject Longevity Protective factor Psychological intervention 050109 social psychology Self-Control Developmental psychology Humans Personality 0501 psychology and cognitive sciences Longitudinal Studies autonomy Self-determination theory media_common Motivation 05 social sciences Cognition Original Articles Middle Aged Personal Autonomy Deci Original Article Female Psychological Theory Psychology Psychosocial Autonomy |
| Zdroj: | Journal of Personality |
| ISSN: | 1467-6494 0022-3506 |
| DOI: | 10.1111/jopy.12379 |
| Popis: | Objective Work on longevity has found protective social, cognitive, and emotional factors, but to date we have little understanding of the impact of motivational dynamics. Autonomy orientation, or stable patterns of self‐regulation, is theorized to be a protective factor for long‐term mental and physical health (Ryan & Deci, 2017), and it is therefore a prime candidate for examining how stable psychosocial factors are linked to longevity, or life expectancy. Method Essays written in the 1930s by participants in the Nun Study were coded for indicators of an autonomy orientation. These were selected in line with an extensive theoretical literature based in self‐determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985). Essays were coded for the propensity for choice in action, susceptibility to pressure, self‐reflection, integration of experiences, and parental support for autonomy. These coded variables were used to predict age of death. Results Using 176 codable essays provided by now‐deceased participants, linear regression analyses revealed that choiceful behavior, self‐reflection, and parent autonomy support predicted age of death. Participants who demonstrated these stable and beneficial motivational characteristics lived longer. Conclusions Personality constructs reflecting a healthy form of self‐regulation are associated with long‐term health. Implications for health interventions are discussed. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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