As Americans get older, optimism seems to be a key factor in their mental and physical well-being. A new Humana survey found that Americans 60 years and older perceive wellness traits as important.

The survey revealed many perspectives but the results about optimism suggest that there may be a link between optimism and a better life. “glass half full”Mentality, mental and physical health

* Older Americans who rated themselves as very optimistic about aging tended to be the most active physically, socially and in their communities.

* They also reported a much lower number of physically unhealthy days per month on average: 2.84 for the most optimistic, compared to 12.55 physically unhealthy days for the least optimistic

* The most optimistic also felt on average 12 years younger than their actual age (those who are least optimistic felt on average 7 years older than their actual age).

Survey respondents were asked to rate their opinions on the portrayal of older people in pop culture. This included television, films, commercials, and other media. Surprisingly, respondents rated these media depictions of their demographic inaccurately at an average 5 or lower on a 10 point scale. According to those aging Americans who feel the media accurately portrays them, they think about aging more than average and have higher levels of fear about aging.

Humana recently partnered up with The University of Southern California to provide a unique look through film at the society’s perceptions of aging in America. The USC studyThe study revealed that older characters are less often seen in films than those aged 60+, with many characters appearing in demeaning or ageist settings. The study revealed the following key findings:

* Just 11 percent of characters evaluated were aged 60 and over; U.S. Census data shows that 18.5 percent of the population is aged 60 and over.

* Out of 57 films that featured a leading or supporting senior character, 30 featured ageist comments — that’s more than half of the films. Quotes included characters being called “a relic,” “a frail old woman”And “a senile old man.”

* Only 29.1 percent of on-screen characters engaged with technology, whereas 84 percent of aging Americans report that they use the internet weekly.

All of these findings are part of growing evidence suggesting that ageism can negatively impact health outcomes for older Americans. Aging Americans can feel invisible due to negative media portrayals and social views. These negative perceptions can reduce optimism and negatively impact emotional and physical health.

Humana’s goal is to empower aging Americans to overcome stereotypes and live with optimism, so they can take steps towards their best health. Learn more about Humana’s commitment towards healthy aging. StartWithHealthy.Humana.com.