IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/jhappi/v16y2015i3p633-654.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Do Social Resources Explain the Relationship Between Optimism and Life Satisfaction in Community-Dwelling Older People? Testing a Multiple Mediation Model

Author

Listed:
  • Cristina Dumitrache
  • Gill Windle
  • Ramona Rubio Herrera

Abstract

Psychosocial resources such as optimism and social resources are associated with adaptation, age-related changes and life satisfaction (LS) maintenance. The relationship between optimism, social resources and LS is unclear as this issue has not been addressed by many studies. The present study analyzes the direct and indirect effect of optimism on LS in older people among older people with and without restrictions due to illness. The indirect effect was tested using a multiple mediation model of network size, emotional, instrumental and affectionate support, subjective evaluation of social relations and satisfaction with family life for each group while controlling for variables that have been found to have an impact on LS (age, self-rated health and the number of illnesses). The sample comprised 406 community-dwelling older adults (M = 74.88, SD = 6.75) from urban areas in Granada, southern Spain. Health status was modestly related to LS while optimism and social relations variables were positively and strongly associated with LS. Among the proposed mediators network size, tangible support and satisfaction with family life mediated the relationship between optimism and LS in the group of people without restrictions due to illness, while for the participants who reported restrictions due to illness only network size and satisfaction with family life mediated the relation between optimism and LS. Optimism and social resources are important factors that are linked to well-being in old age. Network size, tangible support and satisfaction with family life partially explain the relationship between optimism and LS. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2015

Suggested Citation

  • Cristina Dumitrache & Gill Windle & Ramona Rubio Herrera, 2015. "Do Social Resources Explain the Relationship Between Optimism and Life Satisfaction in Community-Dwelling Older People? Testing a Multiple Mediation Model," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 633-654, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:16:y:2015:i:3:p:633-654
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-014-9526-3
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1007/s10902-014-9526-3
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10902-014-9526-3?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wencke Gwozdz & Alfonso Sousa-Poza, 2010. "Ageing, Health and Life Satisfaction of the Oldest Old: An Analysis for Germany," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 97(3), pages 397-417, July.
    2. Bowling, Ann & Farquhar, Morag & Grundy, Emily & Formby, Juliet, 1993. "Changes in life satisfaction over a two and a half year period among very elderly people living in London," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 36(5), pages 641-655, March.
    3. Daiva Daukantaitė & Rita Zukauskiene, 2012. "Optimism and Subjective Well-Being: Affectivity Plays a Secondary Role in the Relationship Between Optimism and Global Life Satisfaction in the Middle-Aged Women. Longitudinal and Cross-Cultural Findi," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 1-16, March.
    4. Jennifer R. Piazza & Susan T. Charles & David M. Almeida, 2007. "Living With Chronic Health Conditions: Age Differences in Affective Well-Being," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 62(6), pages 313-321.
    5. Bibing Dai & Baoshan Zhang & Juan Li, 2013. "Protective Factors for Subjective Well-being in Chinese Older Adults: The Roles of Resources and Activity," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 14(4), pages 1225-1239, August.
    6. Viola Angelini & Danilo Cavapozzi & Luca Corazzini & Omar Paccagnella, 2012. "Age, Health and Life Satisfaction Among Older Europeans," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 105(2), pages 293-308, January.
    7. Y. Chan & Rance Lee, 2006. "Network Size, Social Support and Happiness in Later Life: A Comparative Study of Beijing and Hong Kong," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 7(1), pages 87-112, March.
    8. Katherine L. Fiori & Jacqui Smith & Toni C. Antonucci, 2007. "Social Network Types Among Older Adults: A Multidimensional Approach," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 62(6), pages 322-330.
    9. Necla Kapikiran, 2012. "Positive and Negative Affectivity as Mediator and Moderator of the Relationship between Optimism and Life Satisfaction in Turkish University Students," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 106(2), pages 333-345, April.
    10. Elliot M. Friedman & Carol D. Ryff, 2012. "Living Well With Medical Comorbidities: A Biopsychosocial Perspective," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 67(5), pages 535-544.
    11. Sherbourne, Cathy Donald & Stewart, Anita L., 1991. "The MOS social support survey," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 32(6), pages 705-714, January.
    12. Jennifer Duke & Howard Leventhal & Susan Brownlee & Elaine A. Leventhal, 2002. "Giving Up and Replacing Activities in Response to Illness," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 57(4), pages 367-376.
    13. Oliver Schilling & Hans-Werner Wahl & Frank Oswald, 2013. "Change in Life Satisfaction Under Chronic Physical Multi-morbidity in Advanced Old Age: Potential and Limits of Adaptation," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 14(1), pages 19-36, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Chunkai Zhao & Jianhao Guo, 2022. "Are Veterans Happy? Long-term Military Service and the Life Satisfaction of Elderly Individuals in China," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 477-508, February.
    2. Qian Nie & Zhaojun Teng & George G. Bear & Cheng Guo & Yanling Liu & Dajun Zhang, 2019. "Hope as Mediator Between Teacher–Student Relationships and Life Satisfaction Among Chinese Adolescents: A Between- and Within-Person Effects Analysis," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(7), pages 2367-2383, October.
    3. Lorena Patricia Gallardo-Peralta & Esteban Sanchez-Moreno & Soledad Herrera, 2022. "Aging and Family Relationships among Aymara, Mapuche and Non-Indigenous People: Exploring How Social Support, Family Functioning, and Self-Perceived Health Are Related to Quality of Life," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-17, July.
    4. Lijian Wang & Liu Yang & Xiaodong Di & Xiuliang Dai, 2020. "Family Support, Multidimensional Health, and Living Satisfaction among the Elderly: A Case from Shaanxi Province, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-18, November.
    5. Luca Zanin, 2017. "Education and Life Satisfaction in Relation to the Probability of Social Trust: a Conceptual Framework and Empirical Analysis," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 132(2), pages 925-947, June.
    6. Myeong-Ah Seo & Young-Jin Lim, 2019. "Optimism and life satisfaction in persons with schizophrenia living in the community," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 65(7-8), pages 615-620, November.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sor Tho Ng & Nai Peng Tey & M Niaz Asadullah, 2017. "What matters for life satisfaction among the oldest-old? Evidence from China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(2), pages 1-16, February.
    2. Myeong-Ah Seo & Young-Jin Lim, 2019. "Optimism and life satisfaction in persons with schizophrenia living in the community," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 65(7-8), pages 615-620, November.
    3. P. Sancho & J. M. Tomás & A. Oliver & L. Galiana & M. Gutiérrez, 2020. "Predicting Life satisfaction in Spanish Adults of Advancing Age Attending University Educational Programs," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 271-287, January.
    4. Marina G. Kolosnitsyna & Natalia A. Khorkina & Khongor N. Dorzhiev, 2014. "What Happens To Happiness When People Get Older? Socio-Economic Determinants Of Life Satisfaction In Later Life," HSE Working papers WP BRP 68/EC/2014, National Research University Higher School of Economics.
    5. Cristina G. Dumitrache & Laura Rubio & José Luis Cabezas Casado & Eulogio Cordón-Pozo, 2022. "Psychometric properties and factor structure of the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey Instrument in a sample of Spanish older adults," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 143-154, March.
    6. J. Tomás & P. Sancho & M. Gutiérrez & L. Galiana, 2014. "Predicting Life Satisfaction in the Oldest-Old: A Moderator Effects Study," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 117(2), pages 601-613, June.
    7. David Cantarero-Prieto & Marta Pascual-Sáez & Carla Blázquez-Fernández, 2018. "What is Happening with Quality of Life Among the Oldest People in Southern European Countries? An Empirical Approach Based on the SHARE Data," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 140(3), pages 1195-1209, December.
    8. Liping Ye & Xinping Zhang, 2019. "Social Network Types and Health among Older Adults in Rural China: The Mediating Role of Social Support," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-14, January.
    9. Vanchai Ariyabuddhiphongs & Joseph Li, 2016. "Buddhist Good Karma of Giving, Optimism, and Happiness Among Thai Female Sex Workers," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 127(2), pages 903-917, June.
    10. Clémence Kieny & Gabriela Flores & Michael Ingenhaag & Jürgen Maurer, 2022. "Healthy, Wealthy, Wise, and Happy? Assessing Age Differences in Evaluative and Emotional Well-Being Among Mature Adults from Five Low- and Middle-Income Countries," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 160(2), pages 1019-1050, April.
    11. Xiaofang Shen & Fei Yin & Can Jiao, 2023. "Predictive Models of Life Satisfaction in Older People: A Machine Learning Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-18, January.
    12. Denise Catalano & Linda Holloway & Elias Mpofu, 2018. "Mental Health Interventions for Parent Carers of Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder: Practice Guidelines from a Critical Interpretive Synthesis (CIS) Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-23, February.
    13. William H. Greene & Mark N. Harris & Rachel J. Knott & Nigel Rice, 2021. "Specification and testing of hierarchical ordered response models with anchoring vignettes," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 184(1), pages 31-64, January.
    14. John F. Helliwell & Haifang Huang & Max B. Norton & Shun Wang, 2019. "Happiness at Different Ages: The Social Context Matters," Springer Books, in: Mariano Rojas (ed.), The Economics of Happiness, chapter 0, pages 455-481, Springer.
    15. Valéria Teresa Saraiva Lino & Nádia Cristina Pinheiro Rodrigues & Mônica Kramer de Noronha Andrade & Inês Nascimento de Carvalho Reis & Lucília Almeida Elias Lopes & Soraya Atie, 2019. "Association between visual problems, insufficient emotional support and urinary incontinence with disability in elderly people living in a poor district in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: A six-year follow-up," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(5), pages 1-12, May.
    16. Ning Li, 2016. "Multidimensionality of Longitudinal Data: Unlocking the Age-Happiness Puzzle," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 128(1), pages 305-320, August.
    17. White, Lynn & McQuillan, Julia & Greil, Arthur L. & Johnson, David R., 2006. "Infertility: Testing a helpseeking model," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 62(4), pages 1031-1041, February.
    18. Liping Ye & Xinping Zhang, 2021. "The association mechanism between social network types and health‐related behaviours among the elderly in rural Hubei Province, China," International Journal of Health Planning and Management, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(3), pages 826-846, May.
    19. Patrick Nürnberger & Dirk von Lewinski & Hans-Bernd Rothenhäusler & Celine Braun & Patrick Reinbacher & Ewald Kolesnik & Andreas Baranyi, 2022. "A biopsychosocial model of severe fear of COVID-19," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(2), pages 1-16, February.
    20. Byoung-Jin Jeon & Kang-Hyun Park, 2022. "The Impact of Social Network Characteristics on Health among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Korea: Application of Social Network Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-9, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:16:y:2015:i:3:p:633-654. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.