scholarly journals The (Un)Willingness to Keep Living at Very Advanced Ages

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 962-962
Author(s):  
Oscar Ribeiro ◽  
Lia Araujo ◽  
Laetitia Teixeira ◽  
Rosa Marina Afonso
Keyword(s):  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Worth Living ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Pain Frequency ◽  
Will To Live ◽  
Valuation Of Life

Abstract A long life is a general desire that will be reached by more and more people, particularly in developed countries. But the delay of mortality raises important questions about quality of life in the later years. Centenarians have received attention from different disciplines, particularly from demography and genetics, but a psychological approach on whether life at age 100 is perceived as worth living is still very limited. This study explores centenarians’ will to live and associated factors in a sample of 121 centenarians (mean age 101 years; SD 1.63 years; 84.3% female), who answered to a questionnaire comprising sociodemographic characteristics, health status, social functioning, and well-being as well as open questions on their will to live and end-of-life issues. Of the total sample, 31.4% expressed willingness to live longer, 30.6% did not, and 38% presented no clear positioning. From the qualitative thematic analysis, annoyance, uselessness, loss of meaning, disconnection, and loneliness were the most common justifications for being reluctant to live longer. Positive valuation of life and good self-rated health, followed by having a confidant and reduced pain frequency, were the reasons for being willing to live longer. From the quantitative analysis, associated factors of will to live include pain frequency, self-rated health, having a friend confidant and valuation of life. This study provides researchers suggestions for further investigation and highlight the importance of inquiring and understanding very old people’s values and views on their will to live, future wishes, and meaning in life.

scholarly journals To Live or Die: What to Wish at 100 Years and Older

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lia Araújo ◽  
Laetitia Teixeira ◽  
Rosa Marina Afonso ◽  
Oscar Ribeiro
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Functioning ◽  
Strong Predictor ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
Advanced Age ◽  
Worth Living ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Open Questions ◽  
Pain Frequency ◽  
Will To Live

Previous research has shown that will to live is a strong predictor for survival among older people, irrespective of age, gender, and comorbidities. However, research on whether life at age 100 is perceived as worth living is limited. The available literature has presented evidence for good levels of positive attitudes and life satisfaction at such an advanced age, but it has also suggested that a longing for death is common. This study aimed to add to the existing data on this matter by exploring centenarians' will to live and the associated factors. The sample comprised 121 centenarians (mean age, 101 years; SD, 1.63 years), 19 (15.7%) of whom were males, from two centenarian studies (PT100). Answers to open questions were analyzed to identify the centenarians' will to live and the reasons behind it. Three groups were created (willing to live longer, not willing to live longer, no clear positioning) and further analyzed in terms of sociodemographic characteristics, health status, social functioning, and well-being. Of the total sample, 31.4% expressed willingness to live longer, 30.6% did not, and 38% presented no clear positioning. The presence of the Catholic religion (God) was referred for centenarians in all three groups. Annoyance, uselessness, loss of meaning, disconnection, and loneliness were the most common justifications for being reluctant to live longer. Positive valuation of life and good self-rated health, followed by having a confidant and reduced pain frequency, were the factors associated with being willing to live longer. The results of the study contribute to the understanding of the psychological functioning of individuals with exceptional longevity, particularly concerning the factors behind willingness to live at such an advanced age.

scholarly journals MEANING IN LIFE AND WILL TO LIVE AS PREDICTORS OF WELL-BEING IN CENTENARIANS

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. 1294-1294
Author(s):  
D.S. Jopp ◽  
C. Meystre ◽  
C. Lampraki
Keyword(s):  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Will To Live

Struggling to find meaning in life among spouses of people with ALS

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 909-916 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anneli O. Ozanne ◽  
Ulla H. Graneheim ◽  
Susann Strang
Keyword(s):  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Disease Process ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Difficult Situation ◽  
Finding Meaning ◽  
Individual Support ◽  
Will To Live ◽  
Proximity To Death ◽  
Lateral Sclerosis

AbstractObjective:The aim of this study was to illuminate experiences of finding meaning in life among spouses of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.Method:Thirteen interviews were analyzed with qualitative content analysis.Results:The spouses were struggling for meaning at the end of a dark tunnel. They felt limited and isolated in their proximity to death. They lived imprisoned lives, felt lonely, considered life to be unfair and incomplete, and mourned the loss of their future. However, they found meaning despite the proximity of death through cherishing their own lives, fellowship, accepting the present, and believing in meaning after the partner's death.Significance of results:Meaning in life strengthened spouses' well-being and ability to find pleasure in a difficult situation. It also strengthened their will to live after the partner's death. Limitations and isolations were strong predictors of what could impair their well-being and the possibility of finding meaning after the partner's death. Spouses need individual support throughout the disease process and after the partner's death, to give them the strength to find meaning in life and prioritize what is important for them. Paying attention to what might prevent them from finding meaning could make it easier to help them in their situation. Providing joint support to the patient and spouse might also help them to see each other's situation, come together, and help each other.

Religion and Subjective Well-Being in Chinese College Students: Does Meaningfulness Matter?

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanfei Hou ◽  
Xiangang Feng ◽  
Xueling Yang ◽  
Zicong Yang ◽  
Xiaoyuan Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Chinese College Students ◽  
Extrinsic Religiosity ◽  
The Relationship

Studies from the West have reported a positive relationship between religion and mental health, and yet research on the relationship between religiosity and well-being among Chinese is rare. The present study investigated this relationship in a representative sample of Chinese college students. From a total sample of 11139 college students in 16 universities nationwide, 1418 students with self-reported religious beliefs were selected. We assessed religiosity (organizational, non-organizational, and intrinsic/extrinsic religiosity), subjective well-being (life satisfaction), psychological distress (depression & anxiety), and meaning in life. In addition, qualitative interviews were conducted with 10 psychologically distressed and 10 non-distressed religious students. Results indicated that religiosity was associated with higher life satisfaction, a relationship partially mediated by meaning in life. Unexpectedly, religiosity was also associated with higher depressive and anxiety symptoms. Qualitative interviews revealed that distressed religious believers suffered from greater mental distress before becoming involved in religion, compared to non-distressed religious students.

The effects of psychological meaning-centered therapies on quality of life and psychological stress: A metaanalysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 608-632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joël Vos ◽  
Diego Vitali
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Psychological Stress ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
Controlled Trials

ABSTRACTObjective:Many psychotherapists speak with clients about meaning in life. Meaning is an neutral evidence-based term for a subjective sense of purpose, values, understanding, self-worth, action-directed goals, and self-regulation. Since little is known about its effectiveness, our study aimed to determine the effects of meaning-centered therapies (MCTs) on improving quality of life and reducing psychological stress.Method:Independent researchers selected and scored articles in multiple languages in multiple search engines. Weighted pooled mean effects were calculated following a random-effects model. Sensitivity analyses included moderators, study and sample characteristics, risk of bias, randomization, types of MCT, control condition, and outcome instruments.Results:Some 52,220 citations included 60 trials (total sampleN= 3,713), of which 26 were randomized controlled trials (N= 1,975), 15 nonrandomized controlled trials (N= 709), and 19 nonrandomized noncontrolled trials with pre/post measurements (N= 1,029). Overall analyses showed large improvements from baseline to immediate posttreatment and follow-up on quality of life (Hedges'g= 1.13,SE= 0.12;g= 0.99,SE= 0.20) and psychological stress (g= 1.21,SE= 0.10;g= 0.67,SE= 0.20). As effects varied between studies, further analyses focused only on controlled trials: MCT had large effect sizes compared to control groups, both immediate and at follow-up, on quality of life (g= 1.02,SE= 0.06;g= 1.06,SE= 0.12) and psychological stress (g= 0.94,SE= 0.07,p< 0.01;g= 0.84,SE= 0.10). Immediate effects were larger for general quality of life (g= 1.37,SE= 0.12) than for meaning in life (g= 1.18,SE= 0.08), hope and optimism (g= 0.80,SE= 0.13), self-efficacy (g= 0.89,SE= 0.14), and social well-being (g= 0.81,SE= 13). The homogeneity of these results was validated by the lack of significance of moderators and alternative ways of selecting studies. Metaregression analyses showed that increases in meaning in life predicted decreases in psychological stress (β = –0.56,p< 0.001).Significance of results:MCT strongly improves quality of life and reduces psychological stress. MCT should be made more widely available, particularly to individuals in transitional moments in life or with a chronic or life-threatening physical illness as they explicitly report meaning-centered concerns.

THE IMPACT OF THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT ON RESIDENTS’ SELF-RATED HEALTH: A CASE STUDY IN PENANG, MALAYSIA

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 109
Author(s):  
Massoomeh Hedayati ◽  
Aldrin Abdullah ◽  
Mohammad Javad Maghsoodi Tilaki
Keyword(s):  
Physical Environment ◽  
Fear Of Crime ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Living Environment ◽  
Housing Quality ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Environment And Health ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

There is continuous debate on the impact of house quality on residents’ health and well-being. Good living environment improves health, and fear of crime is recognised as a mediator in the relationship between physical environment and health. Since minimal studies have investigated the relationship, this study aims to examine the impact of the house quality on fear of crime and health. A total of 230 households from a residential neighbourhood in Malaysia participated in the study. Using structural equation modelling, the findings indicate that housing quality and fear of crime can account for a proportion of the variance in residents’ self-rated health. However, there is no significant relationship between housing quality and fear of crime. Results also show that fear of crime does not mediate the relationship between housing quality and health. This study suggests that the environment-fear relationship should be re-examined theoretically.  

Growth and Social Capital: Empirical Analysis of the Relationship

2019 ◽  
pp. 128-134
Author(s):  
Ksenia V. Bagmet
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Social Development ◽  
Empirical Analysis ◽  
Panel Data Analysis ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
International Institute ◽  
Level Of Economic Development

The article provides an empirical test of the hypothesis of the influence of the level of economic development of the country on the level of development of its social capital based on panel data analysis. In this study, the Indices of Social Development elaborated by the International Institute of Social Studies under World Bank support are used as an indicators of social capital development as they best meet the requirements for complexity (include six integrated indicators of Civic Activism, Clubs and Associations, Intergroup Cohesion, Interpersonal Safety and Trust, Gender Equality, Inclusion of Minorities), comprehensiveness of measurement, sustainability. In order to provide an empirical analysis, we built a panel that includes data for 20 countries divided into four groups according to the level of economic development. The first G7 countries (France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom); the second group is the economically developed countries, EU members and Turkey, the third group is the new EU member states (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania); to the fourth group – post-Soviet republics (Armenia, Georgia, Russian Federation, Ukraine). The analysis shows that the parameters of economic development of countries cannot be completely excluded from the determinants of social capital. Indicators show that the slowdown in economic growth leads to greater cohesion among people in communities, social control over the efficiency of distribution and use of funds, and enforcement of property rights. The level of tolerance to racial diversity and the likelihood of negative externalities will depend on the change in the rate of economic growth. Also, increasing the well-being of people will have a positive impact on the level of citizens’ personal safety, reducing the level of crime, increasing trust. Key words: social capital, economic growth, determinant, indice of social development.

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