In order to determine important predictors of psychosocial and physical
vitality in late midlife, the authors examined the lives of 173 men
prospectively studied from ages 18 to 65. Biopsychosocial predictors--
gathered before age 50--were examined for their correlation with three
outcome variables measured at age 65: physical health, mental health, and
life satisfaction. Extent of tranquilizer use before age 50 was the most
powerful negative predictor of both mental and physical health outcomes at
age 65. Another important predictor for mental health was maturity of
defenses before age 50. Paradoxically, warm childhood environment made an
important independent contribution to predicting physical--not
mental--health.Abstract Teaser