Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-mwx4w Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-02T07:12:59.145Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

17 - Sources of Well-Being in Very Old Age

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 December 2010

Paul B. Baltes
Affiliation:
Max-Planck-Institut für Bildungsforschung, Berlin
Karl Ulrich Mayer
Affiliation:
Max-Planck-Institut für Bildungsforschung, Berlin
Get access

Summary

In this chapter, we examine ideas about the sources and processes of well-being in the context of a model derived from the work of Campbell, Converse, and Rodgers (1976). The model allows an integration of medical, sociological, and psychological perspectives. We describe the levels of well-being reported by the participants in the first cross-sectional measurement phase of the Berlin Aging Study (BASE), and examine the extent to which objective and subjective indicators of specific life domains predict overall individual well-being. Results from this investigation were multifaceted. The majority of participants reported satisfaction with their present life conditions. However, older women, individuals aged 85 and over, and persons living in institutions reported less frequent experience of positive emotions, an important component of well-being. Path analysis indicated that subjective domain evaluations (especially subjective health) were stronger predictors of subjective well-being than were the objective measures of domain status. This finding is consistent with the theoretical framework of Campbell et al. (1976). It suggests that the self-regulation processes that contribute to adaptation to changing life conditions (e.g., changes in aspiration levels and comparison targets) operate effectively in old age. We argue, however, that the cumulative challenges and losses of very old age could tap the limits of these adaptive processes. For this reason, it is essential to implement measures supportive of well-being in late adulthood. […]

Type
Chapter
Information
The Berlin Aging Study
Aging from 70 to 100
, pp. 450 - 472
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 1998

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure coreplatform@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×