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Culture, Aging, Self-Continuity, and Life Satisfaction

Author

Listed:
  • Li-Jun Ji

    (Queen’s University)

  • Faizan Imtiaz

    (Towson University)

  • Yanjie Su

    (Peking University)

  • Zhiyong Zhang

    (Peking University)

  • Alexa C. Bowie

    (Queen’s University)

  • Baorui Chang

    (Guangxi Normal University)

Abstract

The present work examines how culture and age interact to influence self-continuity and life satisfaction. Specifically, we compared Canadian and Chinese young (17–26 years old) and older adults (60–88 years old) in their sense of self-continuity and life satisfaction (N = 424). Consistent with past research, older adults reported greater self-continuity compared to their young counterparts, while cross-cultural comparisons showed that young Chinese reported greater self-continuity than young Canadians. In terms of life satisfaction, older adults again scored higher than younger adults, while cross-cultural comparisons indicated that, this time, young Canadians reported higher life satisfaction than young Chinese. Although the data were cross-sectional, indirect effects analyses showed that self-continuity mediated the effect of age on life satisfaction in both cultural groups, with the indirect effect stronger among Canadians than among Chinese. These findings highlight the importance of considering culture and age when examining psychological outcomes, and the potential of self-continuity as a mechanism to enhance overall life satisfaction.

Suggested Citation

  • Li-Jun Ji & Faizan Imtiaz & Yanjie Su & Zhiyong Zhang & Alexa C. Bowie & Baorui Chang, 2022. "Culture, Aging, Self-Continuity, and Life Satisfaction," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(8), pages 3843-3864, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:23:y:2022:i:8:d:10.1007_s10902-022-00568-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-022-00568-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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