Jessie Dezutter1, Loren Toussaint2, Mia Leijssen3. 1. Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven University of Leuven, Belgium. Jessie.Dezutter@ppw.kuleuven.be. 2. Department of Psychology, Luther College Decorah, Iowa. 3. Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven University of Leuven, Belgium.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed first, to investigate the relation between forgivingness and depressive symptoms in elderly individuals and second, to explore whether the developmental task of integrity/despair is a possible underlying process in this relation. Both aims were studied in a sample of community-dwelling elderly individuals as well as in a sample of residential elderly individuals. METHODS: Community-dwelling elderly individuals (n = 280, M = 75.98 years) and residential elderly individuals (n = 205, M = 83.20 years) in Belgium filled out questionnaires on forgivingness, depressive symptoms, and the developmental task of integrity/despair. Structural equation modeling was used to test the mediational role of integrity/despair in the relation between forgivingness and depression in both samples. Furthermore, multigroup analyses tested the convergence of the mediational models in the community-dwelling elderly individuals and the residential elderly individuals. RESULTS: Forgivingness and depression were negatively associated in both residential elderly individuals and community-dwelling elderly individuals. The developmental task of finding integrity and avoiding despair showed to be a significant mediator in this relationship. DISCUSSION: Framed within a life-span perspective, we showed that the developmental task of finding a balance between integrity and despair is an important intrapersonal mechanism through which forgivingness is related with depressed feelings for residential as well as community-dwelling elderly individuals.
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed first, to investigate the relation between forgivingness and depressive symptoms in elderly individuals and second, to explore whether the developmental task of integrity/despair is a possible underlying process in this relation. Both aims were studied in a sample of community-dwelling elderly individuals as well as in a sample of residential elderly individuals. METHODS:Community-dwelling elderly individuals (n = 280, M = 75.98 years) and residential elderly individuals (n = 205, M = 83.20 years) in Belgium filled out questionnaires on forgivingness, depressive symptoms, and the developmental task of integrity/despair. Structural equation modeling was used to test the mediational role of integrity/despair in the relation between forgivingness and depression in both samples. Furthermore, multigroup analyses tested the convergence of the mediational models in the community-dwelling elderly individuals and the residential elderly individuals. RESULTS: Forgivingness and depression were negatively associated in both residential elderly individuals and community-dwelling elderly individuals. The developmental task of finding integrity and avoiding despair showed to be a significant mediator in this relationship. DISCUSSION: Framed within a life-span perspective, we showed that the developmental task of finding a balance between integrity and despair is an important intrapersonal mechanism through which forgivingness is related with depressed feelings for residential as well as community-dwelling elderly individuals.
Authors: Lindsy Desmet; Jessie Dezutter; Anne Vandenhoeck; Annemie Dillen Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-03-23 Impact factor: 3.390