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Cognitive, Affective and Eudemonic Well-Being in Later Life: Measurement Equivalence over Gender and Life Stage

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  • Bram Vanhoutte
  • James Nazroo

Abstract

The hedonic view on well-being, consisting of both cognitive and affective aspects, assumes that through maximizing pleasurable experiences, and minimizing suffering, the highest levels of well-being can be achieved. The eudemonic approach departs from the concept of a good life that is not just about pleasure and happiness, but involves developing one-self, being autonomous and realizing one's potential. While these approaches are often positioned against each other on theoretical grounds, this paper investigates the empirical plausibility of this two dimensional view on subjective well-being. The interrelations between common measures such as the General Health Questionnaire, the CES-D inventory of depressive symptoms, the satisfaction with life scale and the eudemonic CASP scale are examined in a confirmatory factor analysis framework using the third wave of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). A multidimensional structure of well-being, distinguishing cognitive, affective and eudemonic well-being, is shown to be the best fitting empirical solution. This three dimensional second order structure is neutral to gender in its measurement. A lower influence of feeling energetic on self-actualisation, and of somatic symptoms of depression on affective well-being was noted for respondents in the fourth age () in comparison to respondents in the third age (). These small measurement artefacts underline that somatic symptoms of later life depression should be distinguished from mood symptoms. Two main social facts are confirmed when we compare the different forms of well-being over gender and life stage: men tend to have a higher level of well-being than women, and well-being is lower in the fourth age than in the third age. Although the three measures are very closely related, with high correlations between .74 and .88, they each have their specific meaning. While affective and cognitive well-being emphasize the use of an internal yardstick to measure well-being, the eudemonic perspective adds an external dimension. As each measure has an own story to tell, we advocate the use of these multiple assessments of well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • Bram Vanhoutte & James Nazroo, 2014. "Cognitive, Affective and Eudemonic Well-Being in Later Life: Measurement Equivalence over Gender and Life Stage," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 19(2), pages 1-14, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socres:v:19:y:2014:i:2:p:1-14
    DOI: 10.5153/sro.3241
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bussière, Clémence & Sirven, Nicolas & Tessier, Philippe, 2021. "Does ageing alter the contribution of health to subjective well-being?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 268(C).
    2. Damianus Abun & Restita B. Pellogo & Theogenia Magallanes & Melody Luz, M. Sapinoso & Mary Joy Encarnacion, 2021. "Employees' Workplace Well-Being and Organizational Citizenship Behavior of Private Education in Ilocos Norte, Philippines," Technium Social Sciences Journal, Technium Science, vol. 19(1), pages 421-438, May.
    3. David M. Lee & Bram Vanhoutte & James Nazroo & Neil Pendleton, 2016. "Sexual Health and Positive Subjective Well-Being in Partnered Older Men and Women," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 71(4), pages 698-710.
    4. James Nazroo, 2017. "Class and Health Inequality in Later Life: Patterns, Mechanisms and Implications for Policy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-19, December.
    5. Ahmed, Rifaan & Kesavayuth, Dusanee & Zikos, Vasileios, 2018. "Does being smarter make you happier? Evidence from Europe," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 55-67.
    6. Ioana Ramia & Malina Voicu, 2022. "Life Satisfaction and Happiness Among Older Europeans: The Role of Active Ageing," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 160(2), pages 667-687, April.
    7. Petra Raudenská, 2023. "Single-item measures of happiness and life satisfaction: the issue of cross-country invariance of popular general well-being measures," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-18, December.
    8. Cho, Esther Yin-Nei & Yu, Fuk-Yuen, 2020. "A review of measurement tools for child wellbeing," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    9. Marina Näsman & Fredrica Nyqvist & Mikael Nygård, 2022. "Disentangling the Concept of Well-Being in Very Old Age Using Rodgers’ Evolutionary Concept Analysis," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(6), pages 3101-3126, August.
    10. Fabio Zagonari, 2016. "Which Attitudes Will Make us Individually and Socially Happier and Healthier? A Cross-Culture and Cross-Development Analytical Model," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 17(6), pages 2527-2554, December.

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