DASH Study
Anton Chekhov, a Russian playwright and writer, once said, 鈥淎ny idiot can face a crisis; it鈥檚 this day-to-day living that wears you out.鈥� And he had a point鈥攚hile big life events are hard, it's the everyday ups and downs that can really affect our health over time, especially as we get older.
Research shows that older adults face small but frequent daily challenges like minor conflicts or frustrations on about 30% of their days. At the same time, they also experience positive events like enjoyable conversations or meaningful social interactions on about 70% of their days. These everyday experiences matter. Frequent negative events are linked to more stress and various health risks, while frequent daily positive experiences are associated with better mood, healthier habits, and even lower levels of inflammation.
We know that social connection plays a big role in mental and physical health, but we still don鈥檛 fully understand how positive experiences lead to long-term benefits. That鈥檚 why we've launched the DASH: Daily Activities, Social Events, and Health study, to better understand what helps older adults stay healthy and resilient. We鈥檙e especially interested in how things like appreciating positive moments, staying socially connected, and being physically active can support coping with daily challenges to promote healthy ageing, ultimately leading to a longer life.
What鈥檚 involved?
To accomplish this, our team aims to collect data from 360 adults aged 65+ in the metro Vancouver area over the next four to five years. Our study procedure involves completing various tasks for a total of 9 hours over 9 days. Participants will:
Visit us for two in-person sessions
Take part in a 7-day study at home: During this time, we鈥檒l collect information on your mood, physical activity, heart rate, stress levels, and daily social interactions using wearable devices (like fitness monitors), brief surveys on a smartphone, and saliva samples.
The total time commitment is about 9 hours over 9 days.
Why does this study matter?
Living longer is something many of us hope for鈥攂ut living well as we age is just as important. By looking closely at everyday experiences鈥攂oth good and bad鈥攖he DASH study aims to uncover how small moments shape long-term health. If we can better understand what helps people bounce back from daily stress or feel uplifted by positive events, we can develop simple, everyday coping strategies to support healthy ageing. By participating in the DASH study and sharing your everyday experiences, you can make a real difference!
Interested in joining?
We鈥檇 love to hear from you!
Call us at 672-699-0442 or email dash_study@sfu.ca.
After you get in touch, we鈥檒l schedule a quick 5鈥�10-minute call to check if the study is a good fit for you.
We look forward to connecting with you!