Susan Hester, Sanlyn Buxner, Lisa Elfring, Lisa Nagy
Integrating quantitative thinking into an introductory biology course improves students' mathematical reasoning in biological contexts
CBE life sciences education
clearly known well danes estimate chances reaching average life expectancy whether identifiable population subgroups misestimate life expectancy potentially also investments savings health pensions therefore study examined individual level whether subjective life expectancy line statistically calculated chance reaching age 85 explored psychological behavioral factors associated overestimation opted crosssectional survey design based sample 5379 danish citizens aged 5070 years returning webbased questionnaire sociodemographic data supplemented national registry average participant estimates chance reaching age 85 age range sex group compared actuarial data performed multiple linear regression analyses examine factors associated subjective expectancy reaching age 85 years found 32 females 23 males reported 100 certainty reaching age 85 average expected survival chance exceeded statistically predicted survival chance 23 males 16 females ageranges 5060 6170 multivariable analysis found health literacy internal health locus control willingness take health risks selfrated health health life satisfaction showed significant positive association expectation reaching age 85 moreover daily medications ex current smokers heavy drinkers significantly less optimistic reaching age 85 particularly population groups inaccurate life expectancies significant associations psychological behavioral factors open way initiatives based behavior change theories reach better agreement subjective statistical life expectancy