older adults. Even less is known about how changes in optimism are related to changes in
physical health. We examined age differences and longitudinal changes in optimism in
9,790 older adults over a 4-year period. We found an inverted U-shaped pattern between
optimism and age both cross-sectionally and longitudinally, such that optimism generally
increased in older adults before decreasing. Increases in optimism over a 4-year period …