André Hajek1, Hans-Helmut König1. 1. Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, Hamburg Center for Health Economics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: It has been shown that negative health comparisons (i.e., when one's health is viewed as worse than the health of relevant others) are associated with subjective well-being (SWB). However, it remains an open question whether negative consequences of health comparisons on SWB might be attenuated by moderating resilience factors. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate whether optimism, self-esteem, and self-efficacy moderate the relationship between health comparisons and SWB using a longitudinal approach. DESIGN: Data from wave 3 (2008) to wave 5 (2014) of the German Ageing Survey which is a representative sample of community-dwelling individuals in Germany (≥40 years) were investigated. METHODS: Validated scales were used to measure optimism, self-esteem, self-efficacy, and SWB. Linear fixed effects regressions were used (with n = 17,136 observations). RESULTS: Regressions revealed that optimism moderates the relationship between negative health comparisons and negative as well as positive affect. Furthermore, self-efficacy moderates the relationship between negative health comparisons and life satisfaction as well as negative affect. Self-esteem moderates the relationship between health comparisons and negative as well as positive affect. CONCLUSION: The study findings suggest that the negative consequences of negative health comparisons might be attenuated by optimism, self-esteem, and self-efficacy. Thus, programs aiming at increasing optimism, self-esteem, and self-efficacy might be helpful to maintain SWB. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? One recent study has investigated the relation between health comparisons and subjective well-being (SWB). Longitudinal studies are missing investigating the moderating factors in this relation. What does this study add? Our longitudinal study examined whether resilience factors moderate the relationship between health comparisons and SWB. Optimism moderates the relationship between health comparisons and negative as well as positive affect. Self-efficacy moderates the relation between health comparisons and cognitive well-being and negative affect.
OBJECTIVES: It has been shown that negative health comparisons (i.e., when one's health is viewed as worse than the health of relevant others) are associated with subjective well-being (SWB). However, it remains an open question whether negative consequences of health comparisons on SWB might be attenuated by moderating resilience factors. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate whether optimism, self-esteem, and self-efficacy moderate the relationship between health comparisons and SWB using a longitudinal approach. DESIGN: Data from wave 3 (2008) to wave 5 (2014) of the German Ageing Survey which is a representative sample of community-dwelling individuals in Germany (≥40 years) were investigated. METHODS: Validated scales were used to measure optimism, self-esteem, self-efficacy, and SWB. Linear fixed effects regressions were used (with n = 17,136 observations). RESULTS: Regressions revealed that optimism moderates the relationship between negative health comparisons and negative as well as positive affect. Furthermore, self-efficacy moderates the relationship between negative health comparisons and life satisfaction as well as negative affect. Self-esteem moderates the relationship between health comparisons and negative as well as positive affect. CONCLUSION: The study findings suggest that the negative consequences of negative health comparisons might be attenuated by optimism, self-esteem, and self-efficacy. Thus, programs aiming at increasing optimism, self-esteem, and self-efficacy might be helpful to maintain SWB. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? One recent study has investigated the relation between health comparisons and subjective well-being (SWB). Longitudinal studies are missing investigating the moderating factors in this relation. What does this study add? Our longitudinal study examined whether resilience factors moderate the relationship between health comparisons and SWB. Optimism moderates the relationship between health comparisons and negative as well as positive affect. Self-efficacy moderates the relation between health comparisons and cognitive well-being and negative affect.
Authors: Usue de la Barrera; Konstanze Schoeps; José-Antonio Gil-Gómez; Inmaculada Montoya-Castilla Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-11-22 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Manuel Javier Arrayás-Grajera; Inmaculada Tornero-Quiñones; Blanca Gavilán-Carrera; Octavio Luque-Reca; Cecilia Peñacoba-Puente; Ángela Sierra-Robles; Ana Carbonell-Baeza; Fernando Estévez-López Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-11-16 Impact factor: 3.390