The Relation of Ego Integrity and Despair to Personality Traits and Mental Health

Gerben J. Westerhof, Ernst T. Bohlmeijer and Dan P. McAdams

The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 2017, vol. 72, issue 3, 400-407

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.

Keywords: Depression—Despair; Ego integrity; Erikson; Mental health; Personality; Well-being. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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The Journals of Gerontology: Series B is currently edited by Psychological Sciences - S. Duke Han, PhD and Social Sciences - Jessica A Kelley, PhD, FGSA

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