Optimism and survival: health behaviors as a mediator-a ten-year follow-up study of Chinese elderly people.

Background: Optimism-the generalized expectation that good things will happen-is a promising health asset. Mounting evidence indicates that there are specific associations between optimism and survival rates. However, for public health purposes, it is critical to consider whether the relationship between optimism and survival holds for older adults as a whole and to explore the role of health behaviors as potential mediators.

The association between falls and anxiety among elderly Chinese individuals: The mediating roles of functional ability and social participation.

Background: Elderly individuals who experience falls suffer from higher levels of anxiety because of physical or mental injury. This study examined the association between falls and anxiety among elderly Chinese individuals. It also explored the mediating roles of functional ability and social participation in the link between falls and anxiety.

The Association between Widowhood and Cognitive Function among Chinese Elderly People: Do Gender and Widowhood Duration Make a Difference?

Few studies have examined the effects of widowhood on cognitive function in Chinese elderly individuals. We conducted a longitudinal study to assess the association between widowhood and cognitive function and further explored gender differences in this association and the impact of widowhood duration. The analytical sample consisted of 5872 Chinese elderly people who participated in the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) and were followed up from 2005 to 2014.