Stephen Jivraj1, James Nazroo2, Bram Vanhoutte2, Tarani Chandola2. 1. Centre for Longitudinal Studies, Institute of Education, University of London. s.jivraj@ioe.ac.uk. 2. Centre for Census and Survey Research (CCSR), School of Social Sciences, University of Manchester.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This paper examines age-related changes in subjective well-being (SWB) in later life using multiple measures that cover eudemonic, evaluative, and affective dimensions of well-being. METHOD: Using data from 5 waves of respondents aged 50 and older from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (2002-11), we fit multilevel linear growth curve models to examine the cohort differences and individual aging effects on quality of life, depressive symptomatology, and life satisfaction. RESULTS: Older cohorts are shown to have equivalent or better SWB than younger cohorts for each well-being measure. Nonetheless, individual aging effects for each well-being measure were observed with deterioration in well-being being greatest in older cohorts, even when adjusting for age-related changes in later life, including widowhood, retirement, and declining health. DISCUSSION: The results suggest that although older cohorts enjoy higher levels of SWB than their younger counterparts when under similar circumstances, they experience sharper declines, especially in the very oldest cohorts. The findings demonstrate the importance of separating out cohort differences and aging effects and also of taking into account the multidimensionality of SWB to determine the point at which age deterioration begins to occur across different measures.
OBJECTIVES: This paper examines age-related changes in subjective well-being (SWB) in later life using multiple measures that cover eudemonic, evaluative, and affective dimensions of well-being. METHOD: Using data from 5 waves of respondents aged 50 and older from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (2002-11), we fit multilevel linear growth curve models to examine the cohort differences and individual aging effects on quality of life, depressive symptomatology, and life satisfaction. RESULTS: Older cohorts are shown to have equivalent or better SWB than younger cohorts for each well-being measure. Nonetheless, individual aging effects for each well-being measure were observed with deterioration in well-being being greatest in older cohorts, even when adjusting for age-related changes in later life, including widowhood, retirement, and declining health. DISCUSSION: The results suggest that although older cohorts enjoy higher levels of SWB than their younger counterparts when under similar circumstances, they experience sharper declines, especially in the very oldest cohorts. The findings demonstrate the importance of separating out cohort differences and aging effects and also of taking into account the multidimensionality of SWB to determine the point at which age deterioration begins to occur across different measures.
Authors: Michael Spratt; James Carpenter; Jonathan A C Sterne; John B Carlin; Jon Heron; John Henderson; Kate Tilling Journal: Am J Epidemiol Date: 2010-07-08 Impact factor: 4.897
Authors: Sean A P Clouston; Paul Brewster; Diana Kuh; Marcus Richards; Rachel Cooper; Rebecca Hardy; Marcie S Rubin; Scott M Hofer Journal: Epidemiol Rev Date: 2013-01-24 Impact factor: 6.222
Authors: Kathy D Wright; Ginette A Pepper; Michael Caserta; Bob Wong; Cherie P Brunker; Diana L Morris; Christopher J Burant; Susan Hazelett; Denise Kropp; Kyle R Allen Journal: Geriatr Nurs Date: 2015-03-14 Impact factor: 2.361
Authors: Nicole DePasquale; Kelly D Davis; Steven H Zarit; Phyllis Moen; Leslie B Hammer; David M Almeida Journal: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci Date: 2014-09-30 Impact factor: 4.077
Authors: Nicole G Lemaster; Carolyn M Hettrich; Cale A Jacobs; Nick Heebner; Philip M Westgate; Scott Mair; Justin R Montgomery; Tim L Uhl Journal: Clin Orthop Relat Res Date: 2021-09-01 Impact factor: 4.755