Coping and Life Satisfaction in Colombian Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: Effective coping strategies facilitate older adults' optimal adaptation and contribute to their well-being. Problem-focused strategies are associated with active styles and enhance well-being. This study analyzes the role of coping strategies in Colombian older adults' subjective well-being (SWB) using structural equation modelling. Additionally, Confirmatory Factor Analyses of the Life Satisfaction Scale and Coping Strategies Questionnaires are performed. METHOD: A cross-sectional study is conducted with 455 Colombian older adults, ranging from 65 to 92 years old. RESULTS: The results show that problem-focused coping has a positive effect on SWB, whereas emotion-focused coping has a negative effect on SWB. CONCLUSIONS: This article highlights the relationship between effective coping and life satisfaction by showing that problem-focused coping strategies are adaptative and enhance well-being during aging.

Resilience and Socioeconomic Status as Predictors of Life Satisfaction and Psychological Well-Being in Colombian Older Adults.

Well-being is a complex construct related to sociodemographic and cultural aspects that vary across cultures. Latin America is a region with high social inequalities among population groups, although this varies significantly depending on the country. This article proposes a model that seeks to establish the relationship between psychosocial variables, psychological well-being, and life satisfaction in a sample of Colombian older adults. The model explores associations between resilience, socioeconomic status, life satisfaction, and psychological well-being. A study with a sample of 617 Colombian older adults was conducted. A structural equation modeling technique was performed. The results showed a model in which life satisfaction is positively explained by psychological well-being and resilience, whereas psychological well-being is explained by a higher socio-economic status. The results contribute to the evidence about how well-being is determined by psychosocial and cultural factors. The evidence found represents novel information about older adults in Colombia.

Bienestar subjetivo y psicológico: comparación de jóvenes y adultos mayores / Subjective and psychological well-being: young and older adults' comparison

El bienestar es un constructo complejo que se refiere a la experiencia óptima y el funcionamiento. El bienestar subjetivo, basado en la perspectiva hedónica, es la valoración general de la vida y el bienestar psicológico, fundamentado en la perspectiva eudaimónica, se asocia al desarrollo personal y realización del potencial de uno mismo. Este trabajo compara un grupo de jóvenes con un grupo de adultos mayores en medidas de bienestar subjetivo y del bienestar psicológico, para estudiar los posibles cambios asociados a la edad. Se realizó un estudio correlacional, en el que participaron 148 sujetos pertenecientes a dos grupos de edad: jóvenes y adultos mayores de Valencia (España). Los resultados mostraron diferencias en el bienestar subjetivo con puntuaciones más altas en el grupo de los adultos mayores para las escalas de afecto positivo. Para el bienestar psicológico los adultos mayores obtuvieron puntuaciones significativamente mayores en las dimensiones de autoaceptación, autonomía y dominio del ambiente. Los resultados apoyan las teorías sobre el sesgo de positividad en la vejez y un mayor uso de estrategias de tipo acomodativo como forma de adaptación a las nuevas situaciones.

Well-being is a complex construct that refers to optimal experience and functioning. Subjective well-being, based on the hedonic perspective, refers to general assessment of life, and psychological well-being, based on the eudemonic perspective, is associated with personal development and fulfillment of one's potential. This study compares a group of young people with a group of elderly people by means of subjective well-being and psychological well-being, in order to study the possible changes associated with age. A correlational study was carried out in which there were 148 subjects from two age groups: young people and elderly people from Valencia (Spain). The results revealed differences in subjective well-being, with higher scores in the group of elderly people for the scales of positive affect. While in psychological well-being, elderly people got significantly higher scores in the dimensions of self-acceptance, autonomy and environmental mastery. These results support theories of positivity bias in old age, and a greater use of accommodative strategies as means of adaptation to new situations.

Bienestar psicológico en función de la etapa de vida, el sexo y su interacción / Psychological Well-being in Terms of Life Stage, Sex, and their Interaction / Bem-estar psicológico em função da etapa de vida, sexo e sua interação

Objetivo. Evaluar las diferencias en las dimensiones del bienestar psicológico en función de los grupos de edad, sexo y su interacción. Método. Se obtuvo una muestra de 706 participantes, dividida en tres grupos de edad (jóvenes, adultos y adultos mayores), quienes respondieron a las escalas de bienestar psicológico de Ryff. Se calculó un Manova teniendo en cuenta las variables grupo de edad, sexo y su interacción. Posteriormente, se realizaron varios Anova para conocer entre cuáles grupos existían diferencias para cada dimensión. Resultados. El análisis mostró una disminución, con la edad, en las dimensiones de bienestar psicológico de relaciones positivas con otros y crecimiento personal, dominio del entorno y pérdida de autonomía en adultos mayores. Por otro lado, la dimensión de autoaceptación difiere entre sexos con la edad; las mujeres mostraron un descenso en su crecimiento personal con la edad, mientras que el dominio del entorno aumenta con la edad adulta, con mayor estabilidad en mujeres. Conclusión. Por lo anterior, se sugiere promover el trabajo de los pensamientos negativos y desadaptativos en mujeres, ya que los hombres obtienen mejores puntuaciones en dimensiones que disminuyen la aparición de patologías relacionadas con el estado de ánimo. Además, deben fomentarse las relaciones sociales y las propias capacidades de los sujetos.

Objective. To evaluate the differences in the dimensions of psychological well-being in reference to age, gender and their interaction. Method. A sample with 706 participants was obtained and then divided in three age groups (young, middle-aged adults and elderly adults), who responded to the Ryff Psychological Well-being Scale A MANOVA was calculated taking into account the group variables of age, gender and their interaction. Later, an ANOVA was done to know among which groups there were differences for each dimension. Results. The analysis showed a decrease, with age, in the dimensions of psychological well-being of positive relationships with others, and personal growth, domain of the environment and loss of autonomy in the elderly adults. In addition, the dimension of self-acceptance differs between the genders with age; women showed a decrease in their personal growth with age, while the domain of the environment increases with the adult age being more stable among women. Conclusion. Based on the above, it is suggested that a work in negative and maladaptive thoughts in women, since men get a better score in dimensions that diminish the appearance of pathologies related to the mood. A work in the social relationships as well as the individuals' aptitudes should be encouraged.

Escopo. Avaliar as diferenças nas dimensões do bem-estar psicológico em função dos grupos de idade, sexo e sua interação. Metodologia. Foi obtida uma amostra de 706 participantes, dividida em três grupos de idade (jovens, adultos e idosos), os quais responderam às Escalas de Bem-estar Psicológico de Ryff. Foi calculado um MANOVA levando em conta as variáveis grupo de idade, sexo e sua interação. Depois, foram feitas ANOVAs para conhecer entre quais grupos existem diferenças para cada dimensão. Resultados. A análise mostrou uma diminuição, com a idade, nas dimensões de bem-estar psicológico de relações positivas com outros e crescimento pessoal, domínio do entorno e perdida de autonomia em idosos. Por sua parte, a dimensão de auto-aceitação difere entre sexos com a idade; as mulheres mostraram um descenso em seu crescimento pessoal com a idade, em quanto que o domínio do entorno aumenta com a idade adulta com maior estabilidade em mulheres. Conclusão. Pelo anterior, sugere-se promover o trabalho dos pensamentos negativos e desadaptativos em mulheres, já que os homens obtêm melhores pontuações em dimensões que diminuem a aparição de patologias relacionadas com o estado de ânimo. Também é recomendável fomentar o trabalho em relações sociais assim como nas próprias habilidades dos sujeitos.