IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/jhappi/v21y2020i2d10.1007_s10902-019-00101-1.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Generativity and Positive Emotion in Older Adults: Mediation of Achievement and Altruism Goal Attainment Across Three Cultures

Author

Listed:
  • Alma Au

    (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

  • Simon Lai

    (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

  • Wen Wu

    (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

  • Jan Hofer

    (University of Trier)

  • Holger Busch

    (University of Trier)

  • Iva Poláčková Šolcová

    (The Academy of Czech Republic Sciences of the Czech Republic)

  • Peter Tavel

    (Palacky University)

  • Sheung-Tak Cheng

    (The Education University of Hong Kong)

Abstract

Generativity, the concern for guiding the next generation, is associated with both agentic (self-orientated) and communal (others-orientated) motives. However, the role of agency-communion goal attainment has not been studied with reference to positive emotion across cultures. The present study examined the mediation effects of achievement and altruism goal attainment between generative concern and positive emotion across three diverse cultures. We used achievement goal attainment to measure agentic goal fulfillment and altruism goal attainment to measure communal goal fulfillment. We tested the mediation effects of achievement and altruism goal attainment were tested with a total of six hundred and twenty-three older adults from the Czech Republic, Germany and Hong Kong. Multi-group structural equation modeling was conducted to test whether the hypothesized model was equivalent across the three cultures. Findings suggested that achievement goal attainment mediated between generative concern and positive emotion for all three countries. However, altruism goal attainment mediated the association between generative concern and positive emotion only in Hong Kong but not in the other two countries. While achievement goal attainment may play a significant role in the association between generativity concern and positive emotion across three cultures, the present study also highlights possible cultural variation on the mediation of altruism goal attainment. Findings underscored the need for further developing a model of generativity and well-being that takes into account goal attainment in diverse cultural contexts.

Suggested Citation

  • Alma Au & Simon Lai & Wen Wu & Jan Hofer & Holger Busch & Iva Poláčková Šolcová & Peter Tavel & Sheung-Tak Cheng, 2020. "Generativity and Positive Emotion in Older Adults: Mediation of Achievement and Altruism Goal Attainment Across Three Cultures," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(2), pages 677-692, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:21:y:2020:i:2:d:10.1007_s10902-019-00101-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-019-00101-1
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10902-019-00101-1
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10902-019-00101-1?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. Sheung-Tak Cheng, 2009. "Generativity in Later Life: Perceived Respect From Younger Generations as a Determinant of Goal Disengagement and Psychological Well-being," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 64(1), pages 45-54.
    2. Mariola Laguna & Guido Alessandri & Gian Vittorio Caprara, 2017. "How do you Feel About this Goal? Goal-Related Affect, Positive Orientation, and Personal Goal Realization in the Family Domain," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 18(3), pages 827-842, June.
    3. Tara L. Gruenewald & Diana H. Liao & Teresa E. Seeman, 2012. "Contributing to Others, Contributing to Oneself: Perceptions of Generativity and Health in Later Life," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 67(6), pages 660-665.
    4. 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.
    5. Tara L. Gruenewald & Elizabeth K. Tanner & Linda P. Fried & Michelle C. Carlson & Qian-Li Xue & Jeanine M. Parisi & George W. Rebok & Lisa M. Yarnell & Teresa E. Seeman, 2016. "The Baltimore Experience Corps Trial: Enhancing Generativity via Intergenerational Activity Engagement in Later Life," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 71(4), pages 661-670.
    6. Sheida Novin & Ivy Tso & Sara Konrath, 2014. "Self-Related and Other-Related Pathways to Subjective Well-Being in Japan and the United States," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 15(5), pages 995-1014, October.
    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. Justyna Wiktorowicz & Izabela Warwas & Dariusz Turek & Iwa Kuchciak, 2022. "Does generativity matter? A meta-analysis on individual work outcomes," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 977-995, December.
    2. Hirose, Junichi & Kotani, Koji & Managi, Shunsuke, 2023. "Do autonomy and inquisitiveness contribute to SDGs? Implications from the matrilineal island of Palau," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 303-318.
    3. Junichi Hirose & Koji Kotani & Shunsuke Managi, 2023. "How do autonomy and inquisitiveness play roles in sustainable development? Implications from matrilineal Island Palau," Working Papers SDES-2023-1, Kochi University of Technology, School of Economics and Management, revised Feb 2023.
    4. Junichi Hirose & Koji Kotani, 2021. "How does inquisitiveness matter for generativity and happiness?," Working Papers SDES-2021-3, Kochi University of Technology, School of Economics and Management, revised May 2021.

    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. Yu-Chih Chen & Natalee Hung & Bobo H. P. Lau & Rebecca M. P. Choy Yung & Ellmon S. M. Fung & Cecilia L. W. Chan, 2022. "Generativity and Gendered Pathways to Health: The Role of Human, Social, and Financial Capital Past Mid-Life," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-14, April.
    2. Molli R. Grossman & Diana Wang & Tara L. Gruenewald, 2019. "Variations in Daily Cognitive Affective States as a Function of Variations in Daily Generative Activity," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 19-34, January.
    3. Wang, Kun & Marbut, Alexander R. & Suntai, Zainab & Zheng, Dianhan & Chen, Xiayu, 2022. "Patterns in older adults' perceived chronic stressor types and cognitive functioning trajectories: Are perceived chronic stressors always bad?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 311(C).
    4. Alejandro Canedo-García & Jesús-Nicasio García-Sánchez & Cristina Díaz-Prieto & Deilis-Ivonne Pacheco-Sanz, 2021. "Evaluation of the Benefits, Satisfaction, and Limitations of Intergenerational Face-to-Face Activities: A General Population Survey in Spain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-17, September.
    5. Zhen Zhang & Jianxin Zhang, 2015. "Social Participation and Subjective Well-Being Among Retirees in China," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 123(1), pages 143-160, August.
    6. Zhen Zhang & Yilin Zhao & Huanlian Du & Maierwana Adelijiang & Jianxin Zhang, 2024. "Educational Quality of the University of the Third Age and Subjective Well-being: Based on a Perspective of Self-determination," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 19(4), pages 2103-2123, August.
    7. Xinyu He & Daniel T. L. Shek & Wenbin Du & Yangu Pan & Yin Ma, 2022. "The Relationship between Social Participation and Subjective Well-Being among Older People in the Chinese Culture Context: The Mediating Effect of Reciprocity Beliefs," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-14, December.
    8. Carly Roman & Christopher R. Beam & Elizabeth Zelinski, 2022. "Psychosocial Outcomes of Age Integration Status: Do Age-Integrated Social Networks Benefit Older Adults?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-15, September.
    9. 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.
    10. Lin, Tian & Harris, Elizabeth A. & Heemskerk, Amber & Van Bavel, Jay J. & Ebner, Natalie C., 2021. "A multi-national test on self-reported compliance with COVID-19 public health measures: The role of individual age and gender demographics and countries’ developmental status," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 286(C).
    11. Lin Yu & Zhimin Yan & Xun Yang & Lei Wang & Yuhan Zhao & Glenn Hitchman, 2016. "Impact of Social Changes and Birth Cohort on Subjective Well-Being in Chinese Older Adults: A Cross-Temporal Meta-analysis, 1990–2010," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 126(2), pages 795-812, March.
    12. Kumiko Nonaka & Hiroshi Murayama & Yoh Murayama & Sachiko Murayama & Masataka Kuraoka & Yuta Nemoto & Erika Kobayashi & Yoshinori Fujiwara, 2023. "The Impact of Generativity on Maintaining Higher-Level Functional Capacity of Older Adults: A Longitudinal Study in Japan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(11), pages 1-10, May.
    13. Haoyi Guo & Steven Sek-yum Ngai, 2021. "Domestic Generative Acts and Life Satisfaction among Supplementary Grandparent Caregivers in Urban China: Mediated by Social Support and Moderated by Hukou Status," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-14, November.
    14. Chien-Chung Huang & Yuanfa Tan & Shannon P. Cheung & Hongwei Hu, 2021. "Adverse Childhood Experiences and Psychological Well-Being in Chinese College Students: Mediation Effect of Mindfulness," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-12, February.
    15. Haoyi Guo & Steven Sek-yum Ngai, 2021. "Validation of the Generative Acts Scale-Chinese Version (GAS-C) among Middle-Aged and Older Adults as Grandparents in Mainland China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-14, September.
    16. Zhong, Sinan & Lee, Chanam & Foster, Margaret J. & Bian, Jiahe, 2020. "Intergenerational communities: A systematic literature review of intergenerational interactions and older adults’ health-related outcomes," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).
    17. 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.
    18. Sarvarubini Nainee & Intan Hashimah Mohd Hashim & Masarah Mohamad Yusof, 2023. "Generativity and Subjective Wellbeing of Malaysian Old Adults: The Role of Gender and Living Arrangement," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, October.
    19. Yafei Liu & Martin Dijst & Stan Geertman, 2017. "The subjective well-being of older adults in Shanghai: The role of residential environment and individual resources," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 54(7), pages 1692-1714, May.
    20. Mariola Laguna & Evelina Longis & Zofia Mazur-Socha & Guido Alessandri, 2022. "Explaining Prosocial Behavior from the Inter-and Within-Individual Perspectives: A Role of Positive Orientation and Positive Affect," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 1599-1615, April.

    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:21:y:2020:i:2:d:10.1007_s10902-019-00101-1. 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.