Psychosocial Resources for Hedonic Balance, Life Satisfaction and Happiness in the Elderly: A Path Analysis

Raquel Lara, Luisa Vázquez Mᵃ, Adelaida Ogallar and Débora Godoy-Izquierdo
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Raquel Lara: Grupo de Investigación Psicología de la Salud y Medicina Conductual (CTS-267), Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Granada, Campus Universitario de Cartuja, 18071 Granada, Spain
Luisa Vázquez Mᵃ: Grupo de Investigación Psicología de la Salud y Medicina Conductual (CTS-267), Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Granada, Campus Universitario de Cartuja, 18071 Granada, Spain
Adelaida Ogallar: Grupo de Investigación Psicología de la Salud y Medicina Conductual (CTS-267), Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Granada, Campus Universitario de Cartuja, 18071 Granada, Spain
Débora Godoy-Izquierdo: Grupo de Investigación Psicología de la Salud y Medicina Conductual (CTS-267), Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Granada, Campus Universitario de Cartuja, 18071 Granada, Spain

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 16, 1-18

Abstract: We explored possible paths from physical and mental health-related quality of life, self-efficacy, optimism, and social support to happiness in older adults, considering hedonic balance and life satisfaction as mediators. A total of 154 Spanish male and female (50%) older adults (65–96 years old, M = 77.44, SD = 8.03; 64% noninstitutionalized elderly) voluntarily participated in this correlational, cross-sectional study. The participants completed self-reports on their perceived health status, self-efficacy, social support, optimism, and global subjective well-being (SWB) as well as its dimensions. Path analysis was used to examine direct and indirect relationships. The final model had an excellent fit with the data (χ2(10) = 11.837, p = 0.296, χ2/df = 1.184; SRMR = 0.050, CFI = 0.994, RMSEA = 0.035), revealing the unique causal effects of all the included predictors on happiness. With the exception of self-efficacy, the psychosocial resources predicted older adults’ current happiness, and this relationship was fully mediated by hedonic balance and life satisfaction, which were found to be putative intermediary factors for SWB. Self-efficacy in turn predicted the remaining psychosocial resources. Our findings extend the existing evidence on the influences of health-related quality of life, self-efficacy, optimism, and social support on SWB. Furthermore, they support the proposal of hedonic balance and life satisfaction as dimensions of SWB, thus supporting the tripartite hierarchical model of happiness. These results may inform future interventions seeking to improve happiness in late adulthood.

Keywords: happiness; subjective well-being; psychosocial resources; older adults; path analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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