Positive Ageing: to What Extent can Current Models of Wellbeing Categorise the Life Events Perceived as Positive by Older Adults?

KILLEN, Alison and MACASKILL, Ann (2020). Positive Ageing: to What Extent can Current Models of Wellbeing Categorise the Life Events Perceived as Positive by Older Adults? International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology, 5 (3), 99-119.

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Abstract

Abstract: Life expectancy is increasing globally, which makes understanding what contributes to well-being in older adults crucial for social and economic reasons. This is the first study to categorize positive life events in community dwelling older adults, to explore their fit with psychological well-being models. Volunteers self-defined as well (N = 88), completed diaries identifying three positive events daily for 14 days. Diary entries combated negative stereotypes of ageing by describing older adults with active lives contributing to society. Of nine themes identified through thematic analysis of over 3500 events; seven supported existing well-being models, being activities delivering positive affect and life satisfaction (hedonic model) and demonstrating competence, autonomy, relatedness, self-acceptance, purpose in life, and personal growth (eudemonic models). However, two well-supported new dimensions were also identified within the themes ‘interaction with the physical environment’ and ‘personal well-being’. These new dimensions were labelled ‘life-affirmation and ‘mindfulness’. This suggests the existence of additional considerations related to well-being specifically for older populations, which may indicate a need to broaden the existing models.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	** From Springer Nature via Jisc Publications Router ** Licence for this article: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ **Journal IDs: pissn 2364-5040; eissn 2364-5059 **Article IDs: publisher-id: s41042-020-00028-6; manuscript: 28 **History: published 10-2020; published_online 13-02-2020; online 13-02-2020; accepted 29-01-2020; registration 29-01-2020
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Research Paper, Subjective well-being, Hedonic well-being, Eudemonic well-being, Mindfulness, Life-affirmation, Age-related models
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1007/s41042-020-00028-6
Page Range:	99-119
SWORD Depositor:	Colin Knott
Depositing User:	Colin Knott
Date Deposited:	25 Sep 2020 10:13
Last Modified:	17 Mar 2021 22:31
URI:	https://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/27309

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