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Soft skills and their relationship with life satisfaction and cognitive reserve in adulthood and older age

Author

Listed:
  • Tommaso Feraco

    (University of Padova)

  • Nicole Casali

    (Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law)

  • Elena Carbone

    (University of Padova)

  • Chiara Meneghetti

    (University of Padova)

  • Erika Borella

    (University of Padova)

  • Barbara Carretti

    (University of Padova)

  • Veronica Muffato

    (University of Padova)

Abstract

Soft skills are key factors for success in multiple contexts of daily life, as well as for life satisfaction, but little is known about their role in late adulthood and older age. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationships of soft skills, as defined by the World Economic Forum, with two indicators of successful/healthy aging: life satisfaction and cognitive reserve. A sample of 435 adults aged 50 and over completed self-reported measures of soft skills, life satisfaction, and cognitive reserve. As control, fluid (reasoning) and crystalized (vocabulary) intelligence were assessed too, along with socio-demographic characteristics. A series of regression analyses showed that soft skills were positively related to both life satisfaction and, to a lower extent, cognitive reserve, above and beyond gender, age, and both fluid and crystallized intelligence. Interestingly, these associations were independent from participants’ age. Overall, these results highlight the importance of considering soft skills also over the middle-late adult life course, due to the potential role of these individual qualities in supporting an individual’s well-being and an active and engaged lifestyle, with implications for the promotion of a healthy aging.

Suggested Citation

  • Tommaso Feraco & Nicole Casali & Elena Carbone & Chiara Meneghetti & Erika Borella & Barbara Carretti & Veronica Muffato, 2024. "Soft skills and their relationship with life satisfaction and cognitive reserve in adulthood and older age," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:eujoag:v:21:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1007_s10433-024-00820-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s10433-024-00820-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Heckman, James J. & Kautz, Tim, 2012. "Hard evidence on soft skills," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 19(4), pages 451-464.
    2. Doris Baumann & Willibald Ruch & Katja Margelisch & Fabian Gander & Lisa Wagner, 2020. "Character Strengths and Life Satisfaction in Later Life: an Analysis of Different Living Conditions," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 15(2), pages 329-347, April.
    3. Erika Borella & Paolo Ghisletta & Elena Carbone & Stephen Aichele, 2023. "The Current and Retrospective Cognitive Reserve (2CR) survey and its relationship with cognitive and mood measures," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 1-12, December.
    4. Nicola S. Schutte & John M. Malouff, 2019. "The Impact of Signature Character Strengths Interventions: A Meta-analysis," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(4), pages 1179-1196, April.
    5. Francesca B. Falzarano & Neshat Yazdani & Jillian Minahan Zucchetto & Karen L. Siedlecki, 2022. "Does Neurocognition Predict Subjective Well-Being?," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(8), pages 3713-3730, December.
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