scholarly journals Service interactions and subjective well-being in later life

2015 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 245-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cécile Plaud ◽  
Samuel Guillemot
Keyword(s):  
Life Events ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Daily Consumption ◽  
Major Life Events ◽  
Major Life ◽  
Content Type

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examines the positive and negative impact of service provider experiences on the process of identity adjustment and how they can lead to subjective well-being (SWB). Due to increased life expectancies, people are experiencing major life events during aging (e.g. death of a spouse, serious disease and major health problems), events that lead to identity redefinition. Design/methodology/approach – To gain more insight into this issue, a qualitative study was carried out that involved 37 in-depth interviews conducted with aging individuals who had experienced a major life event such as retirement and/or death of spouse. To apprehend the diversity of consumption situations, the authors investigated daily consumption, hedonic consumption and imposed services (e.g. health and funeral services) due to life events. Findings – The findings suggest that service providers influence consumer’s SWB as regards relationships, growth and purpose in life, mastery and independence and self-acceptance. Originality/value – The contribution indicates that services play a role in maintaining and/or creating SWB. By segmentation through social roles and facilitating access to services, providers must take into account the processes of normalcy and abandonment (déprise) among aging consumers in life transitions. They must also ensure that they support consumers with the lowest human capital (skills, level of education, income and social class).

scholarly journals A Dimensional Taxonomy of Perceived Characteristics of Major Life Events

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maike Luhmann ◽  
Ina Fassbender ◽  
Mark Alcock ◽  
Peter Hähner
Keyword(s):  
Social Status ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Outcomes ◽  
Common Finding ◽  
External Control ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Major Life Events ◽  
Major Life ◽  
Total N

Major life events (MLEs) are studied in many different areas in psychology such as personality development, clinical psychology, or posttraumatic growth. In all of these areas, a common finding is that MLEs differ in their effects on psychological outcomes. However, a framework that allows a systematic examination of these differences is still absent. This paper presents a systematic literature review and 4 empirical studies (Ns between 226 and 449, total N = 1,477) in which we developed and evaluated a dimensional taxonomy of nine perceived characteristics of MLEs: valence, impact, predictability, challenge, emotional significance, change in world views, social status changes, external control, and extraordinariness. These event characteristics can be measured reliably with the Event Characteristics Questionnaire (ECQ). Perceived event characteristics predicted individual differences in changes in subjective well-being in both retrospective and longitudinal data after MLEs over and above established predictors of subjective well-being such as personality and demographic characteristics. A comparison between the ECQ and established taxonomies of situation characteristics such as the DIAMONDS (Rauthmann et al., 2014) showed high conceptual and empirical convergence between some ECQ subscales (e.g., valence, challenge) with characteristics of situations, whereas other ECQ subscales (e.g., social status changes, external control) were conceptually and empirically distinct from situation characteristics. In sum, including measures of perceived event characteristics in studies on MLEs may enhance our understanding of why MLEs differ in the direction, strength, and duration of their effects on psychological outcomes.

Stepping Off the Hedonic Treadmill

2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 144-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony D. Mancini ◽  
George A. Bonanno ◽  
Andrew E. Clark
Keyword(s):  
Life Events ◽  
Growth Mixture Modeling ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Major Life Events ◽  
Major Life ◽  
Modal Response ◽  
Stress Responding ◽  
Best Fit

Theorists have long maintained that people react to major life events but then eventually return to a setpoint of subjective well-being. Yet prior research is inconclusive regarding the extent of interindividual variability. Recent theoretical models suggest that there should be heterogeneity in long-term stress responding ( Bonanno, 2004 ; Muthén & Muthén, 2000 ). To test this idea, we used latent growth mixture modeling to identify specific patterns of individual variation in response to three major life events (bereavement, divorce, and marriage). A four-class trajectory solution provided the best fit for bereavement and marriage, while a three-class solution provided the best fit for divorce. Relevant covariates predicted trajectory class membership. The modal response across events was a relatively flat trajectory (i.e., no change). Nevertheless, some trajectories diverged sharply from the modal response. Despite the tendency to maintain preevent levels of SWB, there are multiple and often divergent trajectories in response to bereavement, divorce, and marriage, underscoring the essential role of individual differences.

scholarly journals De rol van grote levensgebeurtenissen bij langer doorwerken

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 22-38
Author(s):  
Karen Pak
Keyword(s):  
Life Events ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Job Resources ◽  
Job Fit ◽  
Major Life Events ◽  
Major Life ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Private Lives ◽  
Working Lives

SUMMARY Due to demographic trends organizations are challenged to extend the working lives of their employees. Therefore, research in to the extension of working lives is increasing. However, there are few empirical studies that study the role of major life events in this process. The goal of this article is to examine through which process major life events can influence the ability, motivation, and opportunity to continue working. To meet this goal 33 employees were interviewed. This article shows that major life events can have a major impact on the ability, motivation, and opportunity to continue working. Major life events can cause changes in the resources and demands that an individual faces. When these fluctuations lead to changes in person-job fit the ability, motivation, and opportunity to continue working are influenced. Employees who experience major life events in their private lives find it important to have access to accommodative practices, whereas employees who experience major life events at work find it important to have access to developmental and utilization practices. It is always important that employees who experience major life events receive sufficient job resources such as the support of colleagues and the supervisor, regardless of the type of life event that they experience.

scholarly journals The impact of major life events on household asset portfolio rebalancing

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 334-347
Author(s):  
Tracey West ◽  
Andrew Worthington
Keyword(s):  
Life Events ◽  
Household Wealth ◽  
Major Life Events ◽  
Major Life ◽  
Household Asset ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Portfolio Rebalancing ◽  
Serious Illness ◽  
Asset Portfolio ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to model the asset portfolio rebalancing decisions of Australian households experiencing a severe life event shock. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses household longitudinal data from the Household, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey since 2001. The major life events are serious illness or injury, death of a spouse, job dismissal or redundancy and separation from a spouse. The asset classes are bank accounts, cash investments, equities, superannuation (private pensions), life insurance, trust funds, owner-occupied housing, investor housing, business assets, vehicles and collectibles. The authors use both static and dynamic Tobit models to assess the impact and duration of impact of the shocks. Findings Serious illness and injury, loss of employment, separation and spousal death cause households to rebalance portfolios in ways that can have detrimental effects on long-term wealth accumulation through poor market timing and the incurring of transaction costs. Research limitations/implications The survey results are only available since 2001, and the wealth module from which the asset data are drawn is self-reported and not available every year. Practical implications Relevant to policymakers working on the ongoing retirement of the “baby boomer” generation and for financial planners guiding household investment decisions. Originality/value Most research on shocks to household wealth concern a narrower range of assets and only limited shocks. Also, this is one of the few studies to use a random effects model to allow for unspecified heterogeneity among households.

Does growth require suffering? A systematic review and meta-analysis on genuine posttraumatic and postecstatic growth

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith Mangelsdorf ◽  
Michael Eid ◽  
Maike Luhmann
Keyword(s):  
Life Events ◽  
Prospective Studies ◽  
Longitudinal Design ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Positive Trend ◽  
Major Life Events ◽  
Major Life ◽  
Total N

Previous literature on growth after major life events has primarily focused on negative experiences and operationalized growth with measures which rely on the post-hoc self-perception of change. Since this method is prone to many biases, two questions have become increasingly controversial: Is there genuine growth after major life events and does growth require suffering? The present meta-analysis is the first synthesis of longitudinal research on the effects of life events on at least one subdomain of psychological well-being, posttraumatic, or postecstatic growth. Studies needed to have a longitudinal design, assess changes through independent measures over time, and provide sufficient data to estimate change scores. The meta-analysis comprises 364 effect sizes from 154 independent samples (total N = 98,436) in 122 longitudinal studies.A positive trend has been found for self-esteem, positive relationships, and mastery in prospective studies after both positive and negative events. We found no general evidence for the widespread conviction that negative life events have a stronger effect than positive ones. No genuine growth was found for meaning and spirituality. In the majority of studies with control groups, results did not significantly differ between event and control group, indicating that changes in the outcome variables cannot simply be attributed to the occurrence of the investigated life events. More controlled prospective studies are necessary in order to validate the genuine nature of post-event growth. Overall, the meta-analysis provides a systematic overview of the state of life event research and delineates important guidelines for future research on genuine growth.

Age identity, stereotypes and older consumers’ service experiences

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Westberg ◽  
Mike Reid ◽  
Foula Kopanidis
Keyword(s):  
Stereotype Threat ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Service Failure ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Negative Stereotypes ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Age Identity ◽  
Older Consumers ◽  
Service Staff

Purpose This study aims to use the lens of the stereotype threat theory to explore older consumers’ age identity and experiences with service providers. Design/methodology/approach This study used semi-structured interviews with Australian consumers aged between 55 and 69. Data were examined using thematic analysis. Findings Older consumers justify a younger cognitive age by distancing themselves from the negative stereotypes associated with ageing and by associating themselves with attitudes and behaviours consistent with a younger age identity. Older consumers are confronted with age-based stereotype threats in a services context through four practices. Exposure to these threats results in service failure and can have a negative impact on both consumers’ ability to function effectively as consumers and their overall well-being. Research limitations/implications A more diverse sample is required to identify the extent to which age-based stereotype threats are experienced and which services marketing practices have the most detrimental impact on older consumers. Practical implications The findings provide insight for services marketers seeking to effectively cater for older consumers and have implications for service staff training, service technology and communications. Social implications The findings have implications for the well-being of older consumers in terms of their self-efficacy and self-esteem as well as their ability to function effectively as consumers. Originality/value This study contributes to the nascent understanding of older consumers’ experiences and their expectations of service interactions and advertising communication. The findings also extend the literature on service failure by demonstrating how age-based stereotypes threaten age identity, resulting in a negative customer experience.

Negative old-age life events and well-being in later life: the moderating and mediating role of loneliness

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Lise Switsers ◽  
Eva Dierckx ◽  
Joan Domènech-Abella ◽  
Liesbeth De Donder ◽  
Sarah Dury ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Negative Life Events ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Negative Events ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Social Contacts ◽  
Social And Emotional ◽  
Emotional Loneliness

ABSTRACT Objectives: Although older adults often experience negative life events or loss experiences, they rarely experience large decreases in their quality of life or well-being. Emotionally satisfying relationships in older adults may serve as a protective factor that reduces the impact of negative events in decreasing well-being. The availability of these close social contacts is essential, and their potential for alleviating feelings of loneliness after negative events could have an important role in promoting well-being. The aim of this study was to test the hypothetical moderation and mediation effects of social and emotional loneliness on the occurrence of negative old-age life events and well-being in later life. Design: This was a cross-sectional survey conducted as part of the Detection, Support and Care for older people – Prevention and Empowerment research project (2015–2018). Setting: Participants were community-dwelling older adults in Flanders (Belgium). Participants: The sample composed of 770 participants aged 60 years and over. Measurements: Participant demographics, social and emotional loneliness, and subjective well-being were measured. Moderation and mediation analyses were performed using the regression-based approach as conducted by Hayes and Rockwood (2017). Results: Results indicated that a low degree of (social) loneliness is a protective, moderating factor and (emotional) loneliness is a mediating factor on the effects of negative life events on well-being in later life. Conclusions: Findings highlight the importance of emotionally and socially satisfying social contacts in order to maintain positive subjective well-being in later life when negative life events may occur.

Core Beliefs Disruption in the Context of an Election: Implications for Subjective Well-Being

2021 ◽  
pp. 003329412110213
Author(s):  
Xianghe Zhu ◽  
Shevaun D. Neupert
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Small Degree ◽  
Core Beliefs ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Major Life Events ◽  
Major Life ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Daily Diary Study

Major life events often challenge the core beliefs people hold about the world, which is a crucial cognitive process predictive of adjustment outcomes. Elections have been associated with physical and socioemotional responses, but what is unclear is whether core beliefs can be disrupted and what implication this disruption might have for well-being. In two studies, we examined the association between core beliefs disruption and well-being in the context of the 2018 U.S. midterm election. In both studies, participants reported a small degree of disruption of core beliefs due to the election. In Study 1, a 14-day daily diary study spanning the weeks before and after the election, multilevel modeling on 529 daily reports revealed that greater disruption of core beliefs was associated with lower mean levels of life satisfaction and greater changes in positive and negative affect. In Study 2, a cross-sectional study conducted 40 days following the election, linear regression analyses on 767 adults aged 18–77 from all 50 states revealed that the disruption of core beliefs due to the midterm election was positively associated with current life satisfaction. The effect held when controlling for multiple confounding factors. These findings suggest that elections can trigger disruption of core beliefs, and this disruption may spill over to subjective well-being in the short term but may positively contribute to post-election adjustment.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document