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The Relation of Ego Integrity and Despair to Personality Traits and Mental Health

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  • Gerben J. Westerhof
  • Ernst T. Bohlmeijer
  • Dan P. McAdams

Abstract

Objectives:Existing studies in the Eriksonian tradition found that ego integrity and despair are important indicators of life-span development. The present study relates ego integrity and despair to contemporary theories of personality and mental health.Method:A cross-sectional study of Dutch adults aged between 50 and 95 years (N = 218) was carried out, using the Northwestern Ego Integrity Scale, the subscales for neuroticism, extraversion, and openness to experience of the NEO-FFI, the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale-Short Form.Results:Extraversion and openness to experience have an indirect relation to ego integrity that is mediated by well-being. Neuroticism was related to despair and explained the relationship of depressive symptoms to despair. Chronological age did not moderate these findings.Discussion:Ego integrity appears to be related to fluctuating states of mental health, whereas despair is more an expression of a general trait-like disposition of neuroticism. Implications for further research are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Gerben J. Westerhof & Ernst T. Bohlmeijer & Dan P. McAdams, 2017. "The Relation of Ego Integrity and Despair to Personality Traits and Mental Health," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 72(3), pages 400-407.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:geronb:v:72:y:2017:i:3:p:400-407.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/geronb/gbv062
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Karen Hooker & Dan P. McAdams, 2003. "Personality Reconsidered: A New Agenda for Aging Research," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 58(6), pages 296-304.
    2. Philippe Cappeliez & Norm O'Rourke, 2002. "Personality Traits and Existential Concerns as Predictors of the Functions of Reminiscence in Older Adults," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 57(2), pages 116-123.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yeter Sinem Üzar‐Özçetin & Nilay Ercan‐Şahin, 2020. "Descriptive phenomenological study on ego‐integrity among older people in nursing homes," Nursing & Health Sciences, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 22(2), pages 472-479, June.
    2. Lindsy Desmet & Jessie Dezutter & Anne Vandenhoeck & Annemie Dillen, 2022. "Religious Coping Styles and Depressive Symptoms in Geriatric Patients: Understanding the Relationship through Experiences of Integrity and Despair," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-18, March.
    3. Pei-Yun Chen & Wen-Chao Ho & Chyi Lo & Tzu-Pei Yeh, 2021. "Predicting Ego Integrity Using Prior Ego Development Stages for Older Adults in the Community," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-9, September.

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