Gerben J Westerhof1, Ernst T Bohlmeijer1, Dan P McAdams2. 1. Department Psychology, Health, and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands. 2. Department Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Existing studies in the Eriksonian tradition found that ego integrity and despair are important indicators of life-span development. The present study relates ego integrity and despair to contemporary theories of personality and mental health. METHOD: A cross-sectional study of Dutch adults aged between 50 and 95 years (N = 218) was carried out, using the Northwestern Ego Integrity Scale, the subscales for neuroticism, extraversion, and openness to experience of the NEO-FFI, the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale-Short Form. RESULTS: Extraversion and openness to experience have an indirect relation to ego integrity that is mediated by well-being. Neuroticism was related to despair and explained the relationship of depressive symptoms to despair. Chronological age did not moderate these findings. DISCUSSION: Ego integrity appears to be related to fluctuating states of mental health, whereas despair is more an expression of a general trait-like disposition of neuroticism. Implications for further research are discussed.
OBJECTIVES: Existing studies in the Eriksonian tradition found that ego integrity and despair are important indicators of life-span development. The present study relates ego integrity and despair to contemporary theories of personality and mental health. METHOD: A cross-sectional study of Dutch adults aged between 50 and 95 years (N = 218) was carried out, using the Northwestern Ego Integrity Scale, the subscales for neuroticism, extraversion, and openness to experience of the NEO-FFI, the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale-Short Form. RESULTS: Extraversion and openness to experience have an indirect relation to ego integrity that is mediated by well-being. Neuroticism was related to despair and explained the relationship of depressive symptoms to despair. Chronological age did not moderate these findings. DISCUSSION: Ego integrity appears to be related to fluctuating states of mental health, whereas despair is more an expression of a general trait-like disposition of neuroticism. Implications for further research are discussed.
Authors: Wouter A C Smink; Jean-Paul Fox; Erik Tjong Kim Sang; Anneke M Sools; Gerben J Westerhof; Bernard P Veldkamp Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2019-05-29
Authors: Lindsy Desmet; Jessie Dezutter; Anne Vandenhoeck; Annemie Dillen Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-03-23 Impact factor: 3.390