Hedonic and eudaimonic well-being in old age through positive psychology studies: a scoping review
Abstract
The study of aging through the lens of Positive Psychology allows looking beyond the decline normally associated with advancing of age and to consider rewarding experiences and strategies to promote a meaningful aging. In order to gather evidence on the key conceptual and empirical advancements that illustrate the commitment of Positive Psychology with aging issues a scoping review was conducted. Papers having “Positive Psychology” AND “Aging” (or similar words to aging) on their title, abstract or key-words were screened across main databases and aging related terms were searched in well-known journals of positive psychology. This strategy yielded 48 articles, 33 original scientific papers and 15 reviews. Main themes, study designs and instruments are presented and the endpoints are discussed according to the hedonic or eudaimonic perspective of the studies. Future directions related with the importance of comprehensive constructs and method approaches in the study of advancing age are highlighted.
Downloads
References
Ai, A.L., Peterson, C., Tice, T.N., Bolling, S.F., & Koenig, H.G. (2004). Faith-based and Secular Pathways to Hope and Optimism Sub-constructs in Middle-aged and Older Cardiac Patients. Journal of Health Psychology, 9, 435–450. doi: 10.1177/1359105304042352
Aldwin, C., & Igarashi, H. (2012). An Ecological Model of Resilience in Late Life. Annual Review of Gerontology & Geriatrics, 32, 115-130. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1891/0198-8794.32.115
Angner, E., Ghandhi, J., Purvis, K., Amante, D., & Allison, J. (2013). Daily Functioning, Health Status, and Happiness in Older Adults. Journal of Happiness Studies, 14, 1563–1574. doi: 10.1007/s10902-012-9395-6
Arksey H., & O'Malley L. (2005). Scoping studies: Towards a methodological framework. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 8, 19-32. doi:10.1080/1364557032000119616
Baker, F.A., & Ballantyne, J. (2013). “You've got to accentuate the positive”: Group songwriting to promote a life of enjoyment, engagement and meaning in aging Australians. Nordic Journal of Music Therapy, 22, 7-24. doi: 10.1080/08098131.2012.678372
Baltes, P. B., & Smith, J. (2003). New frontiers in the future of aging: From successful aging of the young old to the dilemmas of the fourth age. Gerontology, 49, 123-135. doi:10.1159/000067946
Bangen, K., Meeks, T., & Jeste, D.V. (2013). Defining and Assessing Wisdom: A Review. American Journal Geriatric Psychiatry, 21, 1254-1266. doi: 10.1016/j.jagp.2012.11.020
Booth, A., Papaioannou, D., & Sutton, A. (2012). Systematic Approaches to a Successful Literature Review. London: Sage.
Broadbent, J., Quadros-Wander, S., & McGillivray, J. (2013). Perceived Control’s Influence on Wellbeing in Residential Care Versus Community Dwelling Older Adults. Journal of Happiness Studies. doi: 10.1007/s10902-013-9452-9.
Brodsky, W. (2011). Rationale behind investigating positive aging among symphony orchestra musicians: A call for a new arena of empirical study. Musicae Scientiae, 15, 3–15. doi: 10.1177/1029864910393425
Brummett, B., Babyak, M., Grønbæk, M., & Barefoot, J. (2011). Positive emotion is associated with 6-year change in functional status in individuals aged 60 and older. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 6, 216-223. doi:10.1080/17439760.2011.570367
Chaitin, J., Sternberg, R., Arad, H., Barzili, L., Deray, N., & Shinhar, S. (2013). ‘‘I May Look 75, but I’m Really a Pioneer’’: Concept of Self and Resilience Among Israeli Elder Adults Living in a War Zone. Journal of Happiness Studies, 14, 1601–1619. doi: 10.1007/s10902-012-9398-3.
Cohen-Mansfield, J., & Poon, L. (2011). An integrative summary and future directions in the study of well-being. In L. Poon & J. Cohen-Mansfield (Eds.), Understanding Well-being in the Oldest Old (pp.364-377). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.
Cowlishaw, S., Niele, S., Teshuva, K., Browning, C., & Kendig, H. (2013). Older adults' spirituality and life satisfaction: a longitudinal test of social support and sense of coherence as mediating mechanisms. Ageing and Society, 33, pp 1243 – 1262. doi: 10.1017/S0144686X12000633,
Dai, B., Zhang, B., & Li, J. (2013). Protective Factors for Subjective Well-being in Chinese Older Adults: The Roles of Resources and Activity. Journal of Happiness Studies, 14, 1225–1239. doi: 10.1007/s10902-012-9378-7
Delle Fave, A., Brdar, I., Freire, T., Vella-Brodrick, D., & Wissing, M.P. (2011). The eudaimonic and hedonic components of happiness: Qualitative and quantitative findings. Social Indicators Research, 100, 158-207. doi: 10.1007/s11205-010-9632-5
Diener, E., Emmons, R., Larsen, R., & Griffin, S. (1985). The Satisfaction With Life Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49, 71-75.
Diener, E., Suh, E. M., Lucas, R. E., & Smith, H. L. (1999). Subjective well-being: Three decades of progress. Psychological Bulletin, 125, 276–302.
Etezadi, S., & Pushkar, D. (2013). Why are Wise People Happier? An Explanatory Model of Wisdom and Emotional Well-Being in Older Adults. Journal of Happiness Studies, 14, 929–950. doi: 10.1007/s10902-012-9362-2
Gana, K., Bailly, N., Saada, Y., Joulain, M., & Alaphilippe, D. (2013)a. Does life satisfaction change in old age: Results from an 8-year longitudinal study. The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 68, 540–552, doi:10.1093/geronb/gbs093
Gallagher, M., Lopez, S., & Preacher, K. (2009). The Hierarchical Structure of Well-Being. Journal of Personality, 77, 1025–1050. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-6494.2009.00573.x
Gana, K., Bailly, N., Saada, Y., Joulain, M., Trouillet, R., … & Alaphilippe, D. (2013)b. Relationship Between Life Satisfaction and Physical Health in Older Adults: A Longitudinal Test of Cross-Lagged and Simultaneous Effects. Health Psychology, 32, 896–904. doi: 10.1037/a0031656
Godoy-Izquierdo, D., Moreno, R., Pérez, M., Serrano, F., & García, J. (2013). Correlates of Happiness Among Older Spanish Institutionalised and Non-Institutionalised Adults. Journal of Happiness Studies, 14, 389–414. doi: 10.1007/s10902-012-9335-5
Griffin, P.W., Mroczek, D.K., & Spiro, A. (2006). Variability in affective change among aging men: Longitudinal findings from the VA Normative Aging Study. Journal of Research in Personality, 40, 942–965. doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2005.09.011
Henderson, L.W., & Knight, T. (2012). Integrating the hedonic and eudaimonic perspectives to more comprehensively understand wellbeing and pathways to wellbeing. International Journal of Wellbeing, 2(3), 196-221. doi:10.5502/ijw.v2i3.3
Hill, R. (2005). Positive Aging: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals and Consumers. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.
Horner, E. (2012). Subjective Well-Being and Retirement: Analysis and Policy Recommendations. Journal of Happiness Studies. doi: 10.1007/s10902-012-9399-2
Isaacowitz, D.M., Vaillant, G.E., & Seligman, M.E.P. (2003). Strengths and Satisfaction Across The Adult Lifespan. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 5), 181-201. doi:10.2190/61EJ-LDYR-Q55N-UT6E
Jeste, D.V., & Palmer, B.W. (2013). A call for a new positive psychiatry of ageing. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 202, 81-83. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.112.110643
Kapur, N., Cole, J., Manly, T., Viskontas, I., Ninteman, A., Hasher, L., & Pascual-Leone, A. (2013). Positive Clinical Neuroscience: Explorations in Positive Neurology. The Neuroscientist, 19, 354–369. doi: 10.1177/1073858412470976
Keng, S., & Wu, S. (2013). Living Happily Ever After? The Effect of Taiwan’s National Health Insurance on the Happiness of the Elderly. Journal of Happiness Studies. doi: 10.1007/s10902-013-9449-4
Keyes, C., Shmotkin, D., & Ryff, C. (2002). Optimizing Well-Being: The Empirical Encounter of Two Traditions. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82, 1007–1022. doi: 0.1037//0022-3514.82.6.1007
Kim, E., Sun, J., Park, N., & Peterson, C. (2013)a. Purpose in life and reduced incidence of stroke in older adults: 'The Health and Retirement Study'. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 74, 427–432. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2013.01.013
Kim, E., Sun, J., Park, N, Kubzansky, L., & Peterson, C. (2013)b. Purpose in life and reduced risk of myocardial infarction among older U.S. adults with coronary heart disease: a two-year follow-up. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 36, 124–133. doi 10.1007/s10865-012-9406-4
Koopmans, T.A., Geleijnse, J.M., Zitman, F.G., & Giltay, E.J. (2010). Effects of Happiness on All-Cause Mortality During 15 Years of Follow-Up: The Arnhem Elderly Study. Journal of Happiness Studies, 11, 113–124. doi 10.1007/s10902-008-9127-0
Linley, P., Joseph, S., Harrington, S., & Wood, A. (2006). Positive psychology: Past, present, and (possible) future. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 1, 3–16. doi: 10.1080/17439760500372796
National Institute on Aging (2013). NIA Timetable. Available in: http://www.nia.nih.gov/about/nia-timeline
Neugarten, B.L., Havighurst, R.J., & Tobin, S.S. (1961). The Measurement of Life Satisfaction. Journal of Gerontology, 16, 134 -143.
Oishi, S., Whitchurch, E., Miao, F., Kurtz, J., & Park, J. (2009). 'Would I be happier if I moved?' Retirement status and cultural variations in the anticipated and actual levels of happiness. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 4, 437–446. doi:10.1080/17439760903271033
Ong, A., Mroczek, D.K., & Riffin, C. (2011). The Health Significance of Positive Emotions in Adulthood and Later Life. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 5, 538–551. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-9004.2011.00370.x
Ostir, G.V., Ottenbacher, K.J., & Markides, K.S. (2004). Onset of frailty in older adults and the protective role of positive affect. Psychology and Aging, 19(3), 402–408. doi: 10.1037/0882-7974.19.3.402
Palgi, Y. (2013). Ongoing Cumulative Chronic Stressors as Predictors of Well-Being in the Second Half of Life. Journal of Happiness Studies, 14, 1127–1144. doi: 10.1007/s10902-012-9371-1
Paúl, C. (2007). Old-Old People: Major Recent Findings and the European Contribution to the State of the Art. In: Rócio Férnandez-Ballesteros (Eds.). GeroPsychology: European Perspectives for an Aging World. Germany: Hogrefe and Huber, pp. 128-144.
Payne, L.L. & Heavenrich, C. (2011). Stop aging and start living: the theory and practice of positive aging. International Journal on Disability and Human Development, 10, 97–101. doi: 10.1515/IJDHD.2011.024
Peterson, S., & Spiker, B. (2005). Establishing the Positive Contributory Value of Older Workers: A Positive Psychology Perspective. Organizational Dynamics, 34, 153–167. doi: 10.1016/j.orgdyn.2005.03.002
Peterson, T., Chatters, L., Taylor, R., & Nguyen, A. (2013). Subjective Well-Being of Older African Americans with DSM IV Psychiatric Disorders. Journal of Happiness Studies. doi: 10.1007/s10902-013-9470-7
Post, S. (2005). Altruism, Happiness, and Health: It’s Good to Be Good. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 12, 66–77.
Ramírez, E., Ortega, A., Chamorro, A., & Colmenero, J. (2013). A program of positive intervention in the elderly: memories, gratitude and forgiveness. Aging & Mental Health. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2013.856858.
Rejeski, W.J., & Gauvin, L. (2013). The embodied and relational nature of the mind: implications for clinical interventions in aging individuals and populations. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 8, 657–665. doi: 10.2147/CIA.S44797
Robertson, G. (2012). Positive ageing – from the political to the Personal. Working with older people, 16, 149-153. doi: 10.1108/13663661211286675
Ruch, W., Proyer, R.T., & Weber, M. (2010). Humor as a character strength among the elderly. Theoretical considerations. Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie, 43, 8–12. doi: 10.1007/s00391-009-0080-2
Rowe, J. W., & Kahn, R. L. (1997). Successful Aging. The Gerontologist, 37, 433–40. doi: 10.1093/geront/37.4.433
Ryan, R.M., & Deci, E.L. (2001). On happiness and human potentials: a review of research on hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. Annual Review of Psychology, 52, 141–166.
Ryff, C. D. (1989). Beyond Ponce de Leon and life satisfaction: New directions in quest of successful aging. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 12, 35–55.
Ryff, C. D. (2003). Corners of myopia in the positive psychology parade. Psychological Inquiry, 14, 153-159
Ryff, C. D., & Keyes, C.L. (1995). The Structure of Psychological Well-Being Revisited. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 69,719-27.
Rodgers, W.L., & Herzog, A.R. (1992). Collecting data about the oldest: problems and procedures. In R.M., Suzman, D.P. Willis, & K.G. Manton (Eds.), The Oldest Old (pp. 135-56). New York: Oxford University Press.
Seligman, M.E.P., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2000). Positive psychology: an Introduction. American Psychologist, 55, 5–14.
Seligman, M.E.P. (2008). Positive Health. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 57, 3–18. doi: 10.1111/j.1464-0597.2008.00351.x
Schilling, O., Wahl, H., & Oswald, F. (2013). Change in Life Satisfaction under Chronic Physical Multi-morbidity in Advanced Old Age: Potential and Limits of Adaptation. Journal of Happiness Studies, 14, 19–36. doi: 10.1007/s10902-011-9313-3
Swindells, R., Lawthom, R., Rowley, K., Siddiquee, A., Kilroy, A., & Kagan, C. (2013). Eudaimonic well-being and community arts participation. Perspectives in Public Health, 133, 60 – 67. doi: 10.1177/1757913912466948
Tadic, M., Oerlemans, W., Bakker, A., & Veenhoven, R. (2013). Daily Activities and Happiness in Later Life: The Role of Work Status. Journal of Happiness Studies, 14, 1507–1527. doi: 10.1007/s10902-012-9392-9
Tovel, H., & Carmel, S. (2013). Maintaining Successful Aging: The Role of Coping Patterns and Resources. Journal of Happiness Studies. doi: 10.1007/s10902-013-9420-4
Tweed, R. G., & Tweed, C. J. (2011). Positive emotion following spousal bereavement: Desirable or pathological? Journal of Positive Psychology, 6, 131-141. doi: 10.1080/17439760.2011.558846
Vahia, I., Chattillion, E., Kavirajan, H., & Depp, C. (2011). Psychological Protective Factors Across the Lifespan: Implications for Psychiatry. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 34, 231–248. doi: 10.1016/j.psc.2010.11.011
Vaillant, G. (2002). Aging Well: Surprising Guideposts to a Happier Life. USA: Little Brown.
Veenhoven, R. (2008). Healthy happiness: effects of happiness on physical health and the consequences for preventive health care. Journal of Happiness Studies, 9, 449–469. doi: 10.1007/s10902-006-9042-1
Waterman, A.S. (1993). Two conceptions of happiness — contrasts of personal expressiveness (eudaimonia) and hedonic enjoyment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 64, 678–691. doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.64.4.678
Wiesmann, U., & Hannich, H. (2013)a. The Contribution of Resistance Resources and Sense of Coherence to Life Satisfaction in Older Age. Journal of Happiness Studies, 14, 911–928. doi: 10.1007/s10902-012-9361-3
Wiesmann, U., & Hannich, H. (2013)b. A Salutogenic Analysis of the Well-Being Paradox in Older Age. Journal of Happiness Studies. doi: 10.1007/s10902-013-9425-z
Wood, A.M., & Joseph, S. (2010). The absence of positive psychological (eudemonic) well-being as a risk factor for depression: A ten year cohort study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 122, 213–217. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2009.06.032
World Health Organization (2011). Global Health and Aging. Available in: http://www.who.int/ageing/publications/global_health.pdf
Wolverson, E.L., Clarke, C., & Moniz-Cook, E. (2010) Remaining hopeful in early-stage dementia: A qualitative study. Aging & Mental Health, 14, 450-460. doi: 10.1080/13607860903483110
The works published in this journal are subject to the following terms:
1. The Publications Service of the University of Murcia (the publisher) retains the property rights (copyright) of published works, and encourages and enables the reuse of the same under the license specified in paragraph 2.
© Servicio de Publicaciones, Universidad de Murcia, 2022
2. The works are published in the online edition of the journal under a Creative Commons Reconocimiento-CompartirIgual 4.0 (legal text). You can copy, use, distribute, transmit and publicly display, provided that: i) you cite the author and the original source of publication (journal, editorial and URL of the work), ii) are not used for commercial purposes, iii ) mentions the existence and specifications of this license.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
3. Conditions of self-archiving. Is allowed and encouraged the authors to disseminate electronically pre-print versions (version before being evaluated and sent to the journal) and / or post-print (version reviewed and accepted for publication) of their works before publication, as it encourages its earliest circulation and diffusion and thus a possible increase in its citation and scope between the academic community. RoMEO Color: Green.