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Psychosocial Resources for Hedonic Balance, Life Satisfaction and Happiness in the Elderly: A Path Analysis

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  • Raquel Lara

    (Grupo de Investigación Psicología de la Salud y Medicina Conductual (CTS-267), Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Granada, Campus Universitario de Cartuja, 18071 Granada, Spain
    Departamento de Psicología Social, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Granada, Campus Universitario de Cartuja, 18071 Granada, Spain)

  • Mᵃ Luisa Vázquez

    (Grupo de Investigación Psicología de la Salud y Medicina Conductual (CTS-267), Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Granada, Campus Universitario de Cartuja, 18071 Granada, Spain
    Departamento de Psicología Evolutiva y de la Educación, Centro Universitario Sagrada Familia, Úbeda, 23400 Jaén, Spain)

  • Adelaida Ogallar

    (Grupo de Investigación Psicología de la Salud y Medicina Conductual (CTS-267), Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Granada, Campus Universitario de Cartuja, 18071 Granada, Spain
    Departamento de Personalidad, Evaluación y Tratamiento Psicológico, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Granada, Campus Universitario de Cartuja, 18071 Granada, Spain)

  • Débora Godoy-Izquierdo

    (Grupo de Investigación Psicología de la Salud y Medicina Conductual (CTS-267), Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Granada, Campus Universitario de Cartuja, 18071 Granada, Spain
    Departamento de Personalidad, Evaluación y Tratamiento Psicológico, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Granada, Campus Universitario de Cartuja, 18071 Granada, Spain)

Abstract

We explored possible paths from physical and mental health-related quality of life, self-efficacy, optimism, and social support to happiness in older adults, considering hedonic balance and life satisfaction as mediators. A total of 154 Spanish male and female (50%) older adults (65–96 years old, M = 77.44, SD = 8.03; 64% noninstitutionalized elderly) voluntarily participated in this correlational, cross-sectional study. The participants completed self-reports on their perceived health status, self-efficacy, social support, optimism, and global subjective well-being (SWB) as well as its dimensions. Path analysis was used to examine direct and indirect relationships. The final model had an excellent fit with the data (χ2(10) = 11.837, p = 0.296, χ2/df = 1.184; SRMR = 0.050, CFI = 0.994, RMSEA = 0.035), revealing the unique causal effects of all the included predictors on happiness. With the exception of self-efficacy, the psychosocial resources predicted older adults’ current happiness, and this relationship was fully mediated by hedonic balance and life satisfaction, which were found to be putative intermediary factors for SWB. Self-efficacy in turn predicted the remaining psychosocial resources. Our findings extend the existing evidence on the influences of health-related quality of life, self-efficacy, optimism, and social support on SWB. Furthermore, they support the proposal of hedonic balance and life satisfaction as dimensions of SWB, thus supporting the tripartite hierarchical model of happiness. These results may inform future interventions seeking to improve happiness in late adulthood.

Suggested Citation

  • Raquel Lara & Mᵃ Luisa Vázquez & Adelaida Ogallar & Débora Godoy-Izquierdo, 2020. "Psychosocial Resources for Hedonic Balance, Life Satisfaction and Happiness in the Elderly: A Path Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-18, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:16:p:5684-:d:395279
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ahra Oh & Jiyoun Kim & Eunsurk Yi & Jongseob Shin, 2020. "Verification of the Mediating Effect of Social Support on Physical Activity and Aging Anxiety of Korean Pre-Older Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-14, November.
    2. Siew-Imm Ng & Xin-Jean Lim & Hui-Chuan Hsu, 2021. "The Importance of Age-Friendly City on Older People’s Continuity and Life Satisfaction," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-16, July.
    3. María Antonia Parra-Rizo & Gema Sanchís-Soler, 2021. "Physical Activity and the Improvement of Autonomy, Functional Ability, Subjective Health, and Social Relationships in Women over the Age of 60," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-10, June.

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