Citation

Tan WH, Sheffield J, Khoo SK, Byrne G, Pachana NA. Aust. Psychol. 2018; 53(3): 203-212.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Australian Psychological Society, Publisher Wiley-Blackwell)

DOI

10.1111/ap.12297

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

OBJECTIVES To examine factors contributing to psychological well-being and ill-being in older Australian women.

METHODS A multi-variable model examining personality traits, life events, medical diagnoses, and cognitive appraisal was tested on 296 women (mean age = 69.13, standard deviation = 10.20) from the Longitudinal Assessment of Women Study using a cross-sectional design.

RESULTS Neuroticism, optimism, and extraversion were associated with both well-being and ill-being, but these relationships were partially mediated by cognitive appraisal. The relationship between number of life events and ill-being was fully mediated by cognitive appraisal, while the relationship between number of life events and well-being was partially mediated by cognitive appraisal. The number of medical diagnoses directly predicted well-being.

CONCLUSIONS The supported model suggests that individual and public-health interventions targeting personality traits, cognitive appraisal, and life events might have potential to improve well-being and reduce ill-being as individuals age.

Language: en

Keywords

ageing women; cognitive appraisal; ill-being; life events; personality traits; well-being