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.
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: Edward McAuley; Steriani Elavsky; Robert W Motl; James F Konopack; Liang Hu; David X Marquez Journal: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci Date: 2005-09 Impact factor: 4.077