title: Differential trajectories of well-being in older adult women: the role of optimism.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Well-being is important to healthy aging. The present study examined the trajectories and determinants of well-being in older women (n = 248) over a 39-month period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants completed measures of optimism, pessimism, functional limitations, physical activity, and self-efficacy. Well-being, operationalised as life satisfaction, was assessed at baseline, 12, 24, and 39 months. Latent growth and class analyses examined trajectories of well-being and antecedents of change.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall model testing a linear growth pattern fit the data well [χ(2) (df = 5) = 7.77, p = .17, CFI = .98, RMSEA = .05], revealing an overall significant, but modest decline in well-being. Three latent classes were further revealed; one class (n = 34, 13.3%) began with moderate levels of well-being (Mi = 25.4, p < .001), which decreased across time (Ms = -3.12, p < .001). A second class (n = 54, 21.8%) began with lower well-being (Mi = 17.1, p < .001) that remained low (Ms = .702, p = .378). The third class (n = 161, 64.9%) started with high levels of well-being (Mi = 28.4, p < .001) which were maintained (Ms = -.027, p = .841). Higher optimism and lower pessimism differentiated between declining well-being and maintaining well-being across time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Optimism and pessimism appear to differentiate patterns of well-being in community-dwelling older women. Promoting optimism-inducing strategies may be useful for maintaining well-being in older adulthood.
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: Erin A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: Jason T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Fanning
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Awick
authors.forename: Hyondo D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McAuley
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010551:Personality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: aging; latent class analysis; optimism; well-being; women's health