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Differential Trajectories of Well‐Being in Older Adult Women: The Role of Optimism
Author(s) -
Olson Erin A.,
Fanning Jason T.,
Awick Elizabeth A.,
Chung Hyondo D.,
McAuley Edward
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
applied psychology: health and well‐being
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.276
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 1758-0854
pISSN - 1758-0846
DOI - 10.1111/aphw.12033
Subject(s) - optimism , pessimism , well being , psychology , latent class model , demography , differential effects , successful aging , gerontology , life satisfaction , developmental psychology , medicine , social psychology , mathematics , theology , sociology , philosophy , statistics , psychotherapist
Background: Well‐being is important to healthy aging. The present study examined the trajectories and determinants of well‐being in older women ( n = 248) over a 39‐month period. Methods: Participants completed measures of optimism, pessimism, functional limitations, physical activity, and self‐efficacy. Well‐being, operationalised as life satisfaction, was assessed at baseline, 12, 24, and 39 months. Latent growth and class analyses examined trajectories of well‐being and antecedents of change. Results: The overall model testing a linear growth pattern fit the data well [χ 2 ( df = 5) = 7.77, p = .17, CFI = .98, RMSEA = .05], revealing an overall significant, but modest decline in well‐being. Three latent classes were further revealed; one class ( n = 34, 13.3%) began with moderate levels of well‐being ( M i = 25.4, p < .001), which decreased across time ( M s = −3.12, p < .001). A second class ( n = 54, 21.8%) began with lower well‐being ( M i = 17.1, p < .001) that remained low ( M s = .702, p = .378). The third class ( n = 161, 64.9%) started with high levels of well‐being ( M i = 28.4, p < .001) which were maintained ( M s = −.027, p = .841). Higher optimism and lower pessimism differentiated between declining well‐being and maintaining well‐being across time. Conclusions: Optimism and pessimism appear to differentiate patterns of well‐being in community‐dwelling older women. Promoting optimism‐inducing strategies may be useful for maintaining well‐being in older adulthood.