Predictors of Longevity: A Follow-Up of the Aged in Chapel Hill

Abstract

A follow-up study of 864 aged persons found that physical mobility, education, occupation, and continued employment were all significant predictors of longevity. Mobility was the single strongest predictor, but the three socioeconomic variables accounted for two-thirds of the explained variance in longevity. It was concluded that socioeconomic factors probably increase longevity in a variety of ways.