What leads to good health in midlife women physicians? Some clues from a longitudinal study.

Data from a longitudinal study of women physicians is used to study psychosocial and current implications of good health in midlife. The women comprise the classes 1964 to 1967 of the University of California School of Medicine at San Francisco. The subjects were interviewed and tested using the California Psychological Inventory while they were still in medical school (Time 1, average age 24 years) and at midlife (Time 2, average age 46 years). The women in good health at midlife, in contrast to their peers, were characterized by certain personality traits, including a higher degree of intellectual efficiency and empathy and relatively less hostility. Early antecedents of good health included having better educated parents. Good physical health at Time 2 was also predicted by Time 1 personality traits reflecting planful, logical, and efficacious use of intellectual resources and having optimistic, trusting relationships with others.