Predicting positive well-being in older men and women.
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of background, psychological, and social variables on older adults' well-being, and how this may differ for men and women. Participants included 800 adults from the 2002 Health and Retirement Study (HRS), aged 60 to 101 years old (M = 71.22, SD = 8.46), who completed the optional positive well-being module. Gender-based regression models revealed that for men, marital status, self-rated health, and depression were significant predictors and accounted for 32% of the variability in positive well-being. Similar to men, self-rated health and depression were significant predictors of well-being for women. Additional significant predictors for women included age, the importance of religion, and volunteer work. Combined, these variables explained 35% of the variance in women's positive well-being. These results can help us understand which variables are important to target when developing interventions to improve the well-being of older men and women.
Waddell
Erin L
EL
University of Kentucky, Lexington 40356-0200, USA.
Jacobs-Lawson
Joy M
JM
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014838:Volunteers