The Effect of Self-Transcendence and Self-Enhancement on the Well-Being of Middle-aged Adults

Abstract Attitudes towards aging include both positive and negative beliefs about older adults (Iverson et al., 2017; Palmore, 1999). Palmore’s (1998) Facts on Aging Quiz, a widely used assessment of knowledge about aging, also identifies common societal misconceptions about aging. Findings regarding age group differences in attitudes toward aging are mixed (Bodner et al., 2012; Cherry & Palmore, 2008; Rupp et al., 2005). The current study compared knowledge of aging, negative age bias, and positive age bias between young adults (18-35 years, n=268) and middle-aged adults (40-55 years; n=277). Middle-aged adults reported significantly greater average knowledge of aging than young adults (p=.019), although both groups had relatively low knowledge (MA: M=13.0, YA: M=12.2). Middle-aged adults also showed significantly less negative age bias (p<.001) and significantly more positive age bias than young adults (p=.026). Although the total sample was significantly more likely to be incorrect than correct on 23 of the 25 facts (p<.001), young adults were significantly more likely than middle-aged adults (p<.001) to respond incorrectly for only 2 of 25 facts. Both facts reflected greater negative age bias among young adults than middle-aged adults. These facts concerned older adults’ ability to work as effectively as young adults (fact 9) and frequency of depression in older adults (fact 13). Results demonstrate that age bias is not limited to young adults and may continue through midlife, though negative age bias in particular may be lower for individuals approaching older adulthood, which could have implications for their psychological and physical well-being.

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Goal Pursuit, Goal Adjustment, and Pain in Middle-Aged Adults Aging With Physical Disability

Journal of Aging and Health ◽

10.1177/0898264319827142 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 31 (10_suppl) ◽

pp. 214S-240S

Author(s):

Anne Arewasikporn ◽

Ann Marie Roepke ◽

Aaron P. Turner ◽

Kevin N. Alschuler ◽

Rhonda M. Williams ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Physical Disability ◽

Healthy Aging ◽

Goal Pursuit ◽

Well Being ◽

Pain Interference ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Goal Adjustment ◽

Cord Injury ◽

Middle Aged Adults

Objective: Aging with physical disability disrupts one’s ability to achieve valued goals due to changes in symptoms and function. It is unclear how to cope optimally in this context. This study examined whether two possible strategies—tenacious goal pursuit (TGP) and flexible goal adjustment (FGA)—were associated with reduced pain interference and depressive symptoms and greater well-being, and protected against pain intensity, and FGA was more protective with increasing age and worse physical function. Method: Middle-aged adults with muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, post-polio syndrome, or spinal cord injury ( N = 874; MAGE = 58.3 years, range = 46-68; MDISEASEDURATION = 26.2 years, range = 2-67) completed two questionnaires, a year apart. Results: TGP and FGA use was associated with greater well-being. FGA use predicted decreased depressive symptoms. Concurrent use of both predicted decreased pain interference. Discussion: Adults with disability employ a variety of goal management strategies. Findings support TGP and FGA as potential intervention targets for healthy aging with disabilities.

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Use of the model of Inner Strength for analysing reflective interviews in a group of healthy middle-aged adults

SAGE Open Medicine ◽

10.1177/2050312119856812 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

pp. 205031211985681

Author(s):

Berit Lundman ◽

Anne Hammarström ◽

Christina Ahlgren ◽

Astrid Norberg

Keyword(s):

Well Being ◽

Human Beings ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Men And Women ◽

Positive View ◽

Four Dimensions ◽

Healthy Women ◽

Different Dimensions ◽

Inner Strength ◽

Middle Aged Adults

Objective: Inner Strength has been described as a human resource that promotes well-being linked to health. The aim of this study was to explore how Inner Strength and its four dimensions are manifested in interviews in a group of middle-aged healthy women and men. Methods: Retrospective reflective interviews with middle-aged healthy women (n = 5) and men (n = 4) selected from a population study were content analysed deductively. Results: The following themes and their constituents were found in the respective dimensions of the Model of Inner Strength. Firmness: having a drive to act, being purposeful, having trust in one’s competence, and having a positive view of life. Connectedness: being in community, receiving and giving support, and, receiving and giving care. Creativity: changing unsatisfactory life situations, seeing new opportunities, and realizing dreams. Stretchability: balancing between options, and extending oneself. Conclusions: Expressions that were interpreted as belonging to Inner Strength could be referred the different dimensions of Inner Strength. The Model of Inner Strength is suitable for analysing Inner Strength among middle-aged men and women. The findings indicate that Inner Strength can be identified in human beings’ narratives if asked for.

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The effects of obligation on relationships and well-being over time in middle adulthood

International Journal of Behavioral Development ◽

10.1177/0165025420911089 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 44 (6) ◽

pp. 479-489

Author(s):

Jeewon Oh ◽

William J. Chopik ◽

Amy K. Nuttall

Keyword(s):

Longitudinal Data ◽

Close Relationships ◽

Well Being ◽

Middle Adulthood ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Younger Adults ◽

Friend Support ◽

Middle Aged Adults ◽

Over Time

Previous research has offered mixed evidence on whether obligation in relationships benefits or harms individuals and their relationships. Given that few studies are prospective and consider multiple close relationships, we used 18-year longitudinal data to model whether obligation is associated with differences in relational and individual well-being over time. Because prior mixed findings may be attributed to differential influences of obligation across development, we also considered age. Light obligation predicted higher levels of relational and individual well-being; substantive obligation sometimes predicted lower levels of well-being. Both types of obligation mostly did not predict changes in relationships and well-being over time except substantive obligation predicted slower increases in friend support. The associations between light and substantive obligation were largely uniform across age. The only exception was for substantive obligation and friend support; substantive obligation was associated with a slower increase in friend support only for younger adults (<39 years old). This study extends previous research by examining obligation among middle-aged adults, addressing a critical developmental gap in this literature. Findings suggest that understanding people’s obligations toward close others is important not only for their own well-being but also their relationships in adulthood.

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