Do all components of psychological well-being predict cognitive function?

Sense of purpose, a component of psychological well-being, has been consistently associated with higher cognitive function and less cognitive decline. However, less is known about associations between the other 5 components of psychological well-being and cognitive outcomes. To address this gap, the current research examined which components of psychological well-being are most strongly associated with cognitive function.

A total of 3,742 participants from the Midlife in the United States study were included in analyses (MAge = 56.04, SD = 12.26). Participants completed the Ryff Psychological Well-being Scales (1989) and the Brief Test of Adult Cognition. Multiple regression analyses were used to examine cross-sectional and prospective associations between psychological well-being components and cognitive function.

All 6 components of psychological well-being were significantly and positively associated with cognition cross-sectionally (βs = 0.07-0.19), with personal growth and sense of purpose being most strongly associated with cognitive function. Moreover, higher levels of sense of purpose, personal growth, environmental mastery, and self-acceptance were associated with better cognitive function at the 9-year follow-up when controlling for baseline cognitive function (β  =  0.03-0.05). No significant differences in the strength of associations across psychological well-being components emerged prospectively.

These findings extend past research by demonstrating that, in addition to a sense of purpose, other components of psychological well-being, especially personal growth, are also associated with cognitive function. These well-being components should be assessed as possible protective factors for cognitive function across the lifespan.