IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/jhappi/v24y2023i5d10.1007_s10902-023-00657-z.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

How Do Late Adults Experience Meaning During the COVID-19 Lockdown? The Role of Intrinsic Goals

Author

Listed:
  • Branko Vermote

    (Ghent University)

  • Sofie Morbée

    (Ghent University)

  • Bart Soenens

    (Ghent University)

  • Maarten Vansteenkiste

    (Ghent University)

  • Joachim Waterschoot

    (Ghent University)

  • Wim Beyers

    (Ghent University)

  • Jolene Kaap-Deeder

    (Norwegian University of Science and Technology)

Abstract

Late adults differ in the degree to which their mental health is impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, with interindividual differences in their capacity to mobilize coping resources playing an important role. Therefore, the search for inner sources of resilience is important to understand late adults’ adaptation to this crisis. Based on Goal Content Theory, a mini-theory within the broader Self-Determination Theory, this study aimed to examine whether older adults’ valuation and attainment of intrinsic goals represent such a source of resilience. Intrinsic goals would form a solid foundation to experience a sense of meaning during this crisis, which, in turn, relates to higher well-being (i.e., life satisfaction and vitality) and lower ill-being (i.e., symptoms of depression, anxiety, and loneliness). During the second month of the lockdown period in Belgium, 693 older adults (Mage = 70.06, SD = 4.48, range: 65–89 years, 62.1% female) filled out online questionnaires concerning the study variables. Structural equation modeling showed that intrinsic goal attainment and goal importance related positively to experiences of meaning in life which, in turn, were related to higher levels of well-being and lower levels of ill-being. No evidence was found for an interaction effect between intrinsic goal attainment and goal importance. Supporting late adults’ pursuit and attainment of meaningful intrinsic goals relates to their well-being and may potentially strengthen their resilience in times of crisis.

Suggested Citation

  • Branko Vermote & Sofie Morbée & Bart Soenens & Maarten Vansteenkiste & Joachim Waterschoot & Wim Beyers & Jolene Kaap-Deeder, 2023. "How Do Late Adults Experience Meaning During the COVID-19 Lockdown? The Role of Intrinsic Goals," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(5), pages 1759-1780, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:24:y:2023:i:5:d:10.1007_s10902-023-00657-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-023-00657-z
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10902-023-00657-z
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10902-023-00657-z?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Peter Schmuck & Tim Kasser & Richard Ryan, 2000. "Intrinsic and Extrinsic Goals: Their Structure and Relationship to Well-Being in German and U.S. College Students," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 50(2), pages 225-241, May.
    2. Kunho Lee & Goo-Churl Jeong & JongEun Yim, 2020. "Consideration of the Psychological and Mental Health of the Elderly during COVID-19: A Theoretical Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-11, November.
    3. Patrick Klaiber & Jin H Wen & Anita DeLongis & Nancy L Sin & Derek M Isaacowitz, 2021. "The Ups and Downs of Daily Life During COVID-19: Age Differences in Affect, Stress, and Positive Events," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 76(2), pages 30-37.
    4. Fatih Sonmez, 2022. "How thoughts of death and intrinsic/extrinsic goal orientation affect well‐being during the pandemic," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 56(1), pages 292-318, March.
    5. Andrew Burr & Jonathan Santo & Dolores Pushkar, 2011. "Affective Well-Being in Retirement: The Influence of Values, Money, and Health Across Three Years," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 12(1), pages 17-40, March.
    6. Miao Miao & Lei Zheng & Yiqun Gan, 2017. "Meaning in Life Promotes Proactive Coping via Positive Affect: A Daily Diary Study," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 18(6), pages 1683-1696, December.
    7. Frank Martela & Richard M. Ryan & Michael F. Steger, 2018. "Meaningfulness as Satisfaction of Autonomy, Competence, Relatedness, and Beneficence: Comparing the Four Satisfactions and Positive Affect as Predictors of Meaning in Life," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 19(5), pages 1261-1282, June.
    8. Johanna Gustavsson & Linda Beckman, 2020. "Compliance to Recommendations and Mental Health Consequences among Elderly in Sweden during the Initial Phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Cross Sectional Online Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-10, July.
    9. Christian Welzel & Ronald Inglehart, 2010. "Agency, Values, and Well-Being: A Human Development Model," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 97(1), pages 43-63, May.
    10. Jolene van der Kaap-Deeder & Branko Vermote & Joachim Waterschoot & Bart Soenens & Sofie Morbée & Maarten Vansteenkiste, 2022. "The role of ego integrity and despair in older adults’ well-being during the COVID-19 crisis: the mediating role of need-based experiences," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 117-129, March.
    11. Andrés Losada-Baltar & Lucía Jiménez-Gonzalo & Laura Gallego-Alberto & María del Sequeros Pedroso-Chaparro & José Fernandes-Pires & María Márquez-González & Derek Issacowitz, 2021. "“We Are Staying at Home.” Association of Self-perceptions of Aging, Personal and Family Resources, and Loneliness With Psychological Distress During the Lock-Down Period of COVID-19," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 76(2), pages 10-16.
    12. Marie Kivi & Isabelle Hansson & Pär Bjälkebring & Derek M Isaacowitz, 2021. "Up and About: Older Adults’ Well-being During the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Swedish Longitudinal Study," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 76(2), pages 4-9.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Eugenie Sin Sing Tan & Shaun Ashley Fung Xian Chin & Manimeyapan S. Palaniappan Sathapan & Astrid Disimond Dewi & Farahnaz Amini & Normina Ahmad Bustami & Pui Yee Tan & Yu Bin Ho & Chung Keat Tan, 2023. "Mental Health and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Observational Evidence from Malaysia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-14, February.
    2. Sacramento Pinazo-Hernandis & Mauricio Blanco-Molina & Raúl Ortega-Moreno, 2022. "Aging in Place: Connections, Relationships, Social Participation and Social Support in the Face of Crisis Situations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-14, December.
    3. Marianela Denegri & María Baeza & Natalia Salinas-Oñate & Verónica Peñaloza & Horacio Miranda & Ligia Orellana, 2014. "Materialism in Pedagogy Students in Chile," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 117(2), pages 505-521, June.
    4. Alfonso Urzúa & Claudia Miranda-Castillo & Alejandra Caqueo-Urízar & Franco Mascayano, 2013. "Do Cultural Values Affect Quality of Life Evaluation?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 114(3), pages 1295-1313, December.
    5. Mohamed Mousa & Walid Chaouali & Monowar Mahmood, 2023. "The Inclusion of Gig Employees and their Career Satisfaction: Do Individual and Collaborative Job Crafting Play a Role?," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 1055-1068, September.
    6. Haiyang Lu & Peng Nie & Alfonso Sousa-Poza, 2021. "The Effect of Parental Educational Expectations on Adolescent Subjective Well-Being and the Moderating Role of Perceived Academic Pressure: Longitudinal Evidence for China," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 14(1), pages 117-137, February.
    7. Tatiana Karabchuk, 2016. "The subjective well-being of women in Europe: children, work and employment protection legislation," Mind & Society: Cognitive Studies in Economics and Social Sciences, Springer;Fondazione Rosselli, vol. 15(2), pages 219-245, November.
    8. Skachkova Liydmila (Скачкова Л. С.) & Shetinina Daria (Щетинина, Д. П.), 2019. "Searching For A Methodology For Measuring Subjective Well-Being Of Scientific And Pedagogical Workers [В Поисках Методологии Измерения Субъективного Благополучия Научно-Педагогических Работников]," State and Municipal Management Scholar Notes, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, vol. 3, pages 187-192.
    9. Timothy Besley & Sacha Dray, 2022. "Trust as state capacity: The political economy of compliance," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2022-135, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    10. Elizabeth A. Minton, 2022. "Pandemics and consumers' mental well‐being," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 56(1), pages 5-14, March.
    11. Wasserman, Deborah L., 2010. "Using a systems orientation and foundational theory to enhance theory-driven human service program evaluations," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 33(2), pages 67-80, May.
    12. James Roberts & Aimee Clement, 2007. "Materialism and Satisfaction with Over-All Quality Of Life and Eight Life Domains," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 82(1), pages 79-92, May.
    13. Yingzhu Yang & Lexiang Zhao & Feng Cui, 2022. "How Does Public Health Investment Affect Subjective Well-Being? Empirical Evidence from China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-19, April.
    14. Salomé Areias & Antje Disterheft & João Pedro Gouveia, 2023. "The Role of Connectedness in Pro-Environmental Consumption of Fashionable Commodities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-17, January.
    15. Gana, Kamel & Saada, Yaël & Broc, Guillaume & Quintard, Bruno & Amieva, Hélène & Dartigues, Jean-François, 2016. "As long as you've got your health: Longitudinal relationships between positive affect and functional health in old age," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 231-238.
    16. Jie Wen & Miao Miao, 2022. "Relationships Between Meaning in Life, Positive and Negative Affect, and Eating Behaviors: A Daily Diary Study," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 1315-1331, April.
    17. Attié, Elodie & Meyer-Waarden, Lars, 2022. "The acceptance and usage of smart connected objects according to adoption stages: an enhanced technology acceptance model integrating the diffusion of innovation, uses and gratification and privacy ca," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    18. Charlotte Roche & Abigail Fisher & Daisy Fancourt & Alexandra Burton, 2022. "Exploring Barriers and Facilitators to Physical Activity during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-16, July.
    19. Marcelo Vinhal Nepomuceno & Michel Laroche, 2017. "When Materialists Intend to Resist Consumption: The Moderating Role of Self-Control and Long-Term Orientation," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 143(3), pages 467-483, July.
    20. Graafland, Johan, 2023. "Economic freedom and life satisfaction: A moderated mediation model with individual autonomy and national culture," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:24:y:2023:i:5:d:10.1007_s10902-023-00657-z. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.