Structure of subjective well-being among the elderly

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Psychology
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Subjective well-being (SWB) is crucial for understanding quality of life, especially in aging populations.
• Existing models of SWB often lack a comprehensive integration of cognitive and affective components.
• Cognitive theories of emotion provide a framework for interpreting emotional experiences and well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To interpret subjective well-being through the lens of cognitive theories of emotion.
• To compare a three-component model of well-being (positive affect, negative affect, cognition) with existing models.
• To examine the fit of these models in a sample of older adults.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from two random samples of individuals aged 65 and older from the Myth and Reality of Aging in America Survey.
• Employed Lisrel (Linear Structural Relations) analyses to test the proposed models.
• Used 17 items from the Affect Balance Scale and the Life Satisfaction Index Form A.

Main Results:

• All tested models, including the proposed three-component model, demonstrated an acceptable fit.
• The fit was evaluated using the ratio of chi-square to degrees of freedom, indicating model adequacy.
• This suggests that the cognitive framework effectively explains components of well-being in older adults.

Conclusions:

• The findings support the integration of cognitive and affective components in understanding subjective well-being.
• The study contributes to the conceptualization and empirical investigation of SWB, particularly in the context of aging.
• Implications are discussed for future research directions in gerontological psychology and well-being studies.