Plucky individuals and those who have suffered a recent major loss are more likely to be compassionate toward strangers than other older adults, according to a recent study.

Compassionate behaviors are associated with better health and well-being as people age. New research from the University of California, San Diego offers insight into ways to improve the outcomes of individuals whose deficits in compassion put them at risk for becoming lonely and isolated later in life.

"We are interested in anything that can help older people age more successfully," Lisa Eyler, PhD, a professor of psychiatry and co-author. "We know that social connections are important to health and well-being, and we know that people who want to be kind to others garner greater social support. If we can foster compassion in people, we can improve their health and well-being, and maybe even longevity."

The study was based on a survey of more than 1,000 randomly selected adults in San Diego County aged 50 and older -- the median age was 77. It identified three factors that were predictive of a person's self-reported compassion gender, recent suffering and high mental resiliency.

Women, independent of their age, income, education, race, marital status or mental health status, scored higher on the compassion test, on average, than men. Researchers also observed higher levels of compassion among both men and women who had "walked a mile in another person's shoes" and experienced a personal loss, such as a death in the family or illness, in the last year.

Researchers found that those who reported higher confidence in their ability to bounce back from hard times also reported more empathy toward strangers and joy from helping those in need.

"What is exciting is that we are identifying aspects of successful aging that we can foster in both men and women," co-author Dilip Jeste said in a statement. "Mental resiliency can be developed through meditation, mindfulness and stress reduction practices. We can also teach people that the silver lining to adversity is an opportunity for personal growth."