ERIC Number: EJ722429
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2005
Pages: 31
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0091-4150
EISSN: N/A
Think Positively and Feel Positively: Optimism and Life Satisfaction in Late Life
Leung, Beeto Wai-Chung; Moneta, Giovanni B.; Mcbride-Chang, Catherine
International Journal of Aging and Human Development, v61 n4 p335-365 2005
This study developed a dispositional path model of life satisfaction for community dwelling Chinese elderly living in Hong Kong. A sample of 117 elderly completed scales measuring life satisfaction, optimism, self-esteem, relationship harmony, self-construals, and perceived/expected health and financial status. Modeling revealed that life satisfaction was predicted by self-esteem and relationship harmony, which in turn were predicted by independent and interdependent self-construals, respectively. In addition, optimism predicted life satisfaction directly and indirectly through self-esteem and relationship harmony. Financial status mediated entirely the effect of optimism on life satisfaction. Health status was predicted by optimism but did not predict life satisfaction. Optimism is a key contributor to subjective well being because it fosters self-esteem, relationship harmony, and positive perceptions of financial conditions.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Older Adults, Well Being, Health Conditions, Life Satisfaction, Self Esteem, Interpersonal Relationship, Personality Traits, Predictor Variables, Income
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Hong Kong
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A