Abstract
The main aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between ongoing cumulative chronic stressors (OCCS) and
well-being during the second half of life. The sample comprised 7,268 participants who had completed the Health and Retirement
Study 2006 psychosocial questionnaire and the full OCCS questionnaire. OCCS were evaluated as a predictor of Subjective Well-Being
and Psychological Well-Being (PWB) using two measures: the number of events and the subjective evaluation attributed to the
events by the participant. Additionally, the association between OCCS and well-being was evaluated in midlife (50–64), young-old
(65–79), and old-old (80–104) participants. The results showed that the participant’s age as well as the number of OCCS perceived
as “very upsetting” were strong predictors of well-being. The relationship between OCCS and PWB was weaker among old-old participants
than among midlife and young-old participants. Although well-being is considered a stable trait-like personality dimension
in the second half of life, the study’s findings suggest that as the number of OCCS was higher, and especially as the subjective
evaluations attributed to an event are more upsetting, well-being was lower. Nevertheless, this lower level of well-being
is partially moderated in the PWB measures by age. Old-old participants maintain a higher general positive sense of PWB than
midlife and young-old participants in what was previously termed the “well-being paradox.” Implications of the results are
discussed.
well-being during the second half of life. The sample comprised 7,268 participants who had completed the Health and Retirement
Study 2006 psychosocial questionnaire and the full OCCS questionnaire. OCCS were evaluated as a predictor of Subjective Well-Being
and Psychological Well-Being (PWB) using two measures: the number of events and the subjective evaluation attributed to the
events by the participant. Additionally, the association between OCCS and well-being was evaluated in midlife (50–64), young-old
(65–79), and old-old (80–104) participants. The results showed that the participant’s age as well as the number of OCCS perceived
as “very upsetting” were strong predictors of well-being. The relationship between OCCS and PWB was weaker among old-old participants
than among midlife and young-old participants. Although well-being is considered a stable trait-like personality dimension
in the second half of life, the study’s findings suggest that as the number of OCCS was higher, and especially as the subjective
evaluations attributed to an event are more upsetting, well-being was lower. Nevertheless, this lower level of well-being
is partially moderated in the PWB measures by age. Old-old participants maintain a higher general positive sense of PWB than
midlife and young-old participants in what was previously termed the “well-being paradox.” Implications of the results are
discussed.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Research Paper
- Pages 1-18
- DOI 10.1007/s10902-012-9371-1
- Authors
- Yuval Palgi, Department of Gerontology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- Journal Journal of Happiness Studies
- Online ISSN 1573-7780
- Print ISSN 1389-4978