Richard A Burns1, Kaarin J Anstey, Timothy D Windsor. 1. Ageing Research Unit, Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia. richard.burns@anu.edu.au
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The tripartite model of depression and anxiety hypothesizes that positive and negative affect is related to depression and anxiety. However, the specific role of cognitive or psychological well-being constructs like resilience and mastery within a tripartite context and throughout adulthood is unclear. METHOD: Data was drawn from two longitudinal population-based cohorts, aged 20-24 and 40-44 based in Canberra, Australia (N = 3989). We sought to determine the interrelatedness of two affective measures of subjective well-being, positive and negative affect, with two cognitive measures of psychological well-being, resilience and mastery. We then tested their independent effects on depression and anxiety, and hypothesized, following the tripartite model, that subjective well-being would mediate the effects of the psychological well-being variables on mental health and that the psychological well-being variables would be more strongly related to positive subjective well-being. RESULTS: Principal axis factoring delineated four affective and cognitive dimensions of well-being comprising positive and negative affect, resilience and mastery. Structural equation models identified the psychological well-being variables as significantly related to subjective well-being, which fully mediated the effects of resilience and partially mediated the effect of mastery on depression and anxiety. These findings were consistent throughout both young and middle adulthood. CONCLUSIONS: Psychological well-being components are significant predictors of subjective well-being affect states that increase vulnerability to depression and anxiety.
OBJECTIVE: The tripartite model of depression and anxiety hypothesizes that positive and negative affect is related to depression and anxiety. However, the specific role of cognitive or psychological well-being constructs like resilience and mastery within a tripartite context and throughout adulthood is unclear. METHOD: Data was drawn from two longitudinal population-based cohorts, aged 20-24 and 40-44 based in Canberra, Australia (N = 3989). We sought to determine the interrelatedness of two affective measures of subjective well-being, positive and negative affect, with two cognitive measures of psychological well-being, resilience and mastery. We then tested their independent effects on depression and anxiety, and hypothesized, following the tripartite model, that subjective well-being would mediate the effects of the psychological well-being variables on mental health and that the psychological well-being variables would be more strongly related to positive subjective well-being. RESULTS: Principal axis factoring delineated four affective and cognitive dimensions of well-being comprising positive and negative affect, resilience and mastery. Structural equation models identified the psychological well-being variables as significantly related to subjective well-being, which fully mediated the effects of resilience and partially mediated the effect of mastery on depression and anxiety. These findings were consistent throughout both young and middle adulthood. CONCLUSIONS: Psychological well-being components are significant predictors of subjective well-being affect states that increase vulnerability to depression and anxiety.
Authors: Kristy Benoit Allen; Jennifer S Silk; Suzanne Meller; Patricia Z Tan; Cecile D Ladouceur; Lisa B Sheeber; Erika E Forbes; Ronald E Dahl; Greg J Siegle; Dana L McMakin; Neal D Ryan Journal: J Child Psychol Psychiatry Date: 2015-11-09 Impact factor: 8.982