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Wisdom and Hard Times: The Ameliorating Effect of Wisdom on the Negative Association Between Adverse Life Events and Well-Being

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  • Monika Ardelt
  • Dilip V Jeste

Abstract

Objectives Old age is characterized by many physical and social losses that adversely affect subjective well-being (SWB). Yet, past studies have shown that wisdom tends to be positively related to SWB in old age, particularly under adverse circumstances. We tested whether three-dimensional wisdom, measured as a combination of cognitive, reflective, and compassionate (affective) personality qualities, moderated the inverse association between adverse life events and well-being. Method A sample of 994 adults aged 51–99 years (M = 77) from the Successful AGing Evaluation (SAGE) study and structural equation models with well-being as a latent variable were used to test the hypothesis. Results Greater wisdom, in particular the reflective wisdom dimension, was positively associated with SWB and buffered the inverse relation between the experience of adverse life events during the previous year and current well-being. Discussion Wisdom appears to strengthen older adults’ ability to cope with aging-related losses and, therefore, is a valuable psychological resource in old age.

Suggested Citation

  • Monika Ardelt & Dilip V Jeste, 2018. "Wisdom and Hard Times: The Ameliorating Effect of Wisdom on the Negative Association Between Adverse Life Events and Well-Being," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 73(8), pages 1374-1383.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:geronb:v:73:y:2018:i:8:p:1374-1383.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/geronb/gbw137
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    Cited by:

    1. Na, Peter J. & Tsai, Jack & Southwick, Steven M. & Pietrzak, Robert H., 2021. "Factors associated with post-traumatic growth in response to the COVID-19 pandemic: Results from a national sample of U.S. military veterans," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 289(C).
    2. Mahdavi Akramsadat & Ardabili Farzad Sattari & Kheirandish Mohammad & Ebrahimpour Habib & Daryani Shahram Mirzaei, 2020. "Presenting a Model of Managerial practical wisdom in Hospitals," Management, Sciendo, vol. 24(2), pages 20-48, December.
    3. Gail Low & Alex Bacadini França & Donna M. Wilson & Gloria Gutman & Sofia von Humboldt, 2023. "Suitability of the Attitudes to Aging Questionnaire Short Form for Use among Adults in Their 50s: A Cross-Sectional e-Survey Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(22), pages 1-16, November.
    4. Alan C. Logan & Susan H. Berman & Richard B. Scott & Brian M. Berman & Susan L. Prescott, 2021. "Catalyst Twenty-Twenty: Post-Traumatic Growth at Scales of Person, Place and Planet," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-14, March.
    5. Małgorzata M. Puchalska-Wasyl, 2023. "Do Wisdom and Well-Being Always Go Hand in Hand? The Role of Dialogues with Oneself," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 1059-1074, March.
    6. Mohammad Hossein Rahmati & Ali Intezari & Bernard McKenna, 2022. "A Shi’a Islam Approach to Wisdom in Management: A Deep Understanding Opening to Dialogue and Dialectic," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 181(4), pages 891-911, December.
    7. Judith Glück & Nic M. Weststrate & Andreas Scherpf, 2022. "Looking Beyond Linear: A Closer Examination of the Relationship Between Wisdom and Wellbeing," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(7), pages 3285-3313, October.

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