Enhancing Older Adults’ Sense of Belonging and Subjective Well-Being Through Sport Game Attendance, Team Identification, and Emotional Support

Objective: We investigate how (a) attendance at sport games and (b) identification with a sport team as fans (i.e., team identification) influence older adults’ perceptions of emotional support, belonging, and subjective well-being (SWB). Method: An experimental pilot study was conducted with 50 older adults, followed by a main survey study administered to 534 older adults from various communities across the United States. Results: Pilot study results indicated that game attendance and team identification had a positive and significant influence on older adults’ perceptions of emotional support from fellow team fans. These results were replicated in the main study, which also showed that older adults’ perceived emotional support from fellow fans was positively associated with their sense of belonging which predicted their SWB. Discussion: The findings provide insights into how older adults may be engaged in meaningful forms of social life to help them maintain and enhance mental health.

Download Full-text

Sport Spectatorship and Life Satisfaction: A Multicountry Investigation

Journal of Sport Management ◽

10.1123/jsm.2016-0295 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 419-432 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Yuhei Inoue ◽

Mikihiro Sato ◽

Kevin Filo ◽

James Du ◽

Daniel C. Funk

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Life Satisfaction ◽

Emotional Support ◽

Positive Association ◽

Well Being ◽

The United States ◽

Professional Sport ◽

Team Identification ◽

Sport Events ◽

Satisfaction Relationship

Elite and professional sport events have been recognized as potential mechanisms to enhance well-being. This multicountry study investigates how engagement in such events, behaviorally through live spectating and psychologically through team identification, is associated with life satisfaction. Data from Australia (N = 268) revealed a positive association between live spectating and life satisfaction through a two-wave design measuring live spectating and life satisfaction in separate surveys. Data from the United States (N = 564) confirmed the live spectating–life satisfaction relationship found in Study 1. Additionally, Study 2 revealed individuals with higher levels of team identification perceived greater emotional support from other fans, and this perception, in turn, predicted life satisfaction. Our findings provide sport managers with implications for positioning appeals in support of sport programs and designing events that facilitate engagement to promote life satisfaction in the community.

Download Full-text

Subjective Well-being of Older Adults in Sub-Saharan Africa Is Most Associated with Food Security, Physical Health and Emotional Support (P04-090-19)

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzz051.p04-090-19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

Edwina Wambogo ◽

Nadine Sahyoun

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Logistic Regression ◽

Food Security ◽

Physical Health ◽

Emotional Support ◽

Well Being ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Country Level ◽

Sub Saharan

Abstract Objectives Using the social ecological model, the objectives of this study were to examine (1) the associations between proximate factors (food security and physical health) and measures of subjective well-being (SWB), and (2) the associations of distal community and country level risk factors with SWB, independent of food security and physical health. Methods Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) data of 5585 respondents aged 60 years or older included in Gallup World Poll (GWP) 2014 and 2015 were included in these analyses. GWP collected data on several indicators SWB (eudaimonic, hedonic and evaluative), together with data on food security, physical health, social support and social participation, and country level factors such as quality of roads and public transport. We estimated three hierarchical logistic regression models for each index controlling for country and GWP survey year as a fixed effects. Results In bivariate logistic regression analysis, food security was most associated with higher evaluative well-being (OR 2.80, 95% CI 2.05–3.83) and physical health was most associated with higher eudaimonic well-being (OR 3.30, 95% CI 2.64–4.14). Physical health was also most associated with higher positive experiences (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.59–2.10), and most inversely associated with negative experiences (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.41–0.55), in bivariate analysis. In the multivariate models, emotional support explained eudaimonic well-being (OR 3.66, 95% CI 2.41–5.58), and evaluative well-being (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.26–2.79), followed by physical health and food security, respectively. Conclusions Food security, physical health and emotional support were strongly associated with SWB among older adults in this study. Food security is particularly important for QOL, and has a bi-directional relationship with these other predictors of SWB. Therefore, continued monitoring the food security of older adults in the region remains important. Funding Sources N/A.

Download Full-text

Helping Amid the Pandemic: Daily Affective and Social Implications of COVID-19-Related Prosocial Activities

The Gerontologist ◽

10.1093/geront/gnaa140 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Nancy L Sin ◽

Patrick Klaiber ◽

Jin H Wen ◽

Anita DeLongis

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Negative Affect ◽

Emotional Support ◽

Well Being ◽

The United States ◽

Older Age ◽

Social Implications ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Support Provision ◽

Formal Volunteering

Abstract Background and Objectives The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have prompted more engagement in prosocial activities, such as volunteering and support transactions. The day-to-day affective and social implications of these activities for adults of different ages are unknown. The current study examined associations of daily prosocial activities with affective and social well-being, and whether these associations varied by age. Research Design and Methods Participants ages 18–91 in Canada and the United States (N = 1,028) completed surveys for 7 consecutive evenings about their daily experiences of COVID-19-related prosocial activities (formal volunteering, support provision, support receipt), positive and negative affect, and satisfaction with social activities and relationships. Analyses were conducted using multilevel modeling and accounted for a range of potential confounding factors (e.g., sociodemographics, work, family, caregiving, daily stressors). Results Older age predicted more frequent formal volunteering, as well as more support provision and support receipt due to COVID-19. In particular, middle-aged and older adults provided more emotional support than younger adults, middle-aged adults provided the most tangible support, and older adults received the most emotional support. All three types of prosocial activities were associated with higher positive affect and greater social satisfaction on days when they occurred. Providing COVID-19-related support further predicted lower same-day negative affect. Age did not significantly moderate these associations. Discussion and Implications Older age was related to more frequent engagement in prosocial activities during the COVID-19 crisis. These activities were associated with improved daily affective and social well-being for adults of all ages.

Download Full-text

Effects of wisdom and religiosity on subjective well-being in old age and young adulthood: exploring the pathways through mastery and purpose in life

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610218001680 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 31 (04) ◽

pp. 477-489 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Monika Ardelt ◽

Michel Ferrari

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Young Adults ◽

Alternative Pathway ◽

Purpose In Life ◽

Well Being ◽

The United States ◽

Path Model ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Age Range ◽

Sense Of Mastery

ABSTRACTObjectives:Prior research found that the positive association between wisdom and subjective well-being might at least partially be explained by a greater sense of mastery and purpose in life. This study tested whether religiosity provides an alternative pathway to well-being and whether the associations are moderated by age cohort and nation of residency.Design and Participants:A quota sample design was used, stratified by age group, sex, and nation of residency, to collect cross-sectional survey data of 111 older adults (age range 62–99 years, M = 77.20, SD = 8.98) and 100 young adults (age range 21–30 years, M = 24.05, SD = 2.69) from Canada and the United States.Measurements:Face-to-face interviews were conducted to administer the survey. All measures consisted of validated scales and items.Results:Multi-group path analysis confirmed that mastery and purpose in life partially mediated the association between wisdom and well-being. Religiosity offered an alternative pathway to well-being, also partially through a greater sense of mastery and purpose in life. Wisdom was statistically more strongly related to mastery among older adults, whereas the association between mastery and purpose in life was statistically stronger among young adults. The mediated pathways from wisdom and religiosity to well-being did not differ by nation of residency.Conclusions:These results highlight the importance of internal strengths for subjective well-being among both young and older adults and add confidence to the generalizability of the mediated path model for North America.

Download Full-text

Proactive Coping and Mindfulness are Associated with Less Stress in Older Adults

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.3271 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 909-909

Author(s):

Lyndsey Graham ◽

Shevaun Neupert

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Online Survey ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

The United States ◽

Proactive Coping ◽

Present Moment ◽

Life Event ◽

Study Results ◽

The Impact

Abstract We examined the consequences of both chronic and life-event stressors for older adults, as well as antecedent strategies, such as proactive coping and mindfulness, that may mitigate stress. Given the potential negative outcomes associated with stress in older adulthood, exploring strategies to reduce or mitigate the negative impact of stress may be useful in promoting well-being in adulthood. Proactive coping involves an accumulation of resources that leads to reduced or avoided stressors in the future (Aspinwall & Taylor, 1997). Mindfulness calls an individual’s attention to the present moment, or may be characterized as an open, accepting attitude (Brown & Ryan, 2003). Using data from the Mindfulness and Anticipatory Coping Everyday study (English et al., 2019; Neupert & Bellingtier, 2017), 296 older adults in the United States, aged 60-90 years (M = 64.67, SD = 4.36), participated in relevant online survey measures. Results from multiple regression analyses suggested that people high in both chronic stress and life event stress had worse health, and that people high in proactive coping and mindfulness reported less stress. Study results underscore the impact of stress on health outcomes, and provide support for the use of antecedent strategies to address negative impacts of stress.

Download Full-text

Measurement Equivalence of the Subjective Well-Being Scale Among Racially/Ethnically Diverse Older Adults

The Journals of Gerontology Series B ◽

10.1093/geronb/gby110 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 75 (5) ◽

pp. 1010-1017

Author(s):

Giyeon Kim ◽

Sylvia Y Wang ◽

Martin Sellbom

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Negative Affect ◽

Ethnic Groups ◽

Measurement Equivalence ◽

Well Being ◽

The United States ◽

Positive And Negative Affect ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Confirmatory Factor Analyses ◽

Racial Ethnic

Abstract Objectives The present study examined differences by race/ethnicity in the measurement equivalence of the Subjective Well-Being Scale (SWBS) among older adults in the United States. Method Drawn from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), adults aged 65 years and older from three racial/ethnic groups (n = 1,200) were selected for the analyses from a total of 8,245: 400 non-Hispanic Whites, 400 African Americans, and 400 Hispanics/Latinos. We tested measurement equivalence of the SWBS that is categorized into three domains: positive and negative affect (four items), self-realization (four items), and self-efficacy and resilience (three items). Multiple-group confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to test measurement invariance. Results After adjusting for age, gender, and education, the underlying construct of the SWBS was noninvariant across three racial/ethnic elderly groups. Discussion Findings suggest that the comparison of latent means (especially for positive and negative affect and self-realization) across racial/ethnic groups is highly questionable. The SWBS should be used with extreme caution when it is applied to diverse racial/ethnic elderly groups for comparison purposes. Implications are discussed in cultural and methodological contexts.

Download Full-text

Beliefs About Intra- and Intergenerational Communication in Japan, the Philippines, and the United States: Implication for Older Adults' Subjective Well-Being

Communication Studies ◽

10.1080/10510970701341139 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 58 (2) ◽

pp. 173-188 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Hiroshi Ota ◽

Howard Giles ◽

Lilnabeth P. Somera

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Older Adults ◽

Well Being ◽

The United States ◽

The Philippines ◽

Intergenerational Communication ◽

Subjective Well Being

Download Full-text

Leisure Activities and the Subjective Well-Being of Older Adults in Croatia

GeroPsych ◽

10.1024/1662-9647/a000179 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

pp. 31-39 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ljiljana Kaliterna Lipovčan ◽

Tihana Brkljačić ◽

Zvjezdana Prizmić Larsen ◽

Andreja Brajša-Žganec ◽

Renata Franc

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Leisure Activities ◽

Leisure Activity ◽

Later Life ◽

Perceived Health ◽

Well Being ◽

Hierarchical Regression ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Financial Status

Abstract. Research shows that engagement in leisure activities promotes well-being among older adults. The objective of the current study was to examine the relationship between subjective well-being (flourishing) and leisure activities (total number of different activities in the previous year) in a sample of older adults in Croatia, thereby considering the variables of sex, marital status, financial status, and self-perceived health. The differences in the examined variables between the groups of older adults who reported to be engaged in new activities with those who did not were also examined. The sample of N = 169 older adults aged 60 years and above was drawn from a convenience sample of adult internet users in Croatia. Participants reported their self-perceived health and the number of leisure activities they engaged in over the previous year as well as completing the Flourishing Scale. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that older adults who were engaged in more various leisure activities, who perceived better financial status, and who were married reported higher levels of flourishing. A comparison of the two groups of older adults with and without engagement in leisure activities showed that those engaged in at least one leisure activity were more likely to be women, reported higher levels of flourishing, and perceived their own financial status as better. This study indicated that engaging in leisure activities in later life might provide beneficial effects for the well-being of older adults.

Download Full-text

Work Life Balance and Job Satisfaction - A Structural Equation Modeling

GIS Business ◽

10.26643/gis.v14i6.11692 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 (6) ◽

pp. 156-162

Author(s):

Dr. D. Shoba ◽

Dr. G. Suganthi

Keyword(s):

Job Satisfaction ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Well Being ◽

Work Life ◽

Work Life Balance ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Life Balance ◽

Study Results

Work-Life balance has its importance from ancient days and the concept is very old, from the day the world has been created. There was a drastic change that has occurred in the market of teachers and their personal profiles. There are tremendous changes in various families which have bartered from the ‘breadwinner’ role of traditional men to single parent families and dual earning couples. This study furnishes an insight into work life balance and job satisfaction of teachers working in School of Villupuram District. The sample comprises of 75 school teachers from Government and private schools in Villupuram District. The Study results that there is increasing mediating evidence in Work-life balance as well as Job satisfaction of teachers are not affected by the type of school in which they are working. Job satisfaction or Pleasure of life will be affected as a whole by Work life balance of an individual which is the main which can be calculated by construct of subjective well being.

Download Full-text