Psychological Development and Education ›› 2019, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (2): 227-235.doi: 10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2019.02.12

Previous Articles     Next Articles

The Relationship between Optimism, Perceived Social Support and Subjective Well-being of The Elderly: The Mediating Role of Control Strategies

NIU Yubai, HAO Zesheng, WANG Renzhen, HONG Fang   

  1. Department of Psychology, Zhejiang Science-Technology University, Hangzhou 310018
  • Published:2019-04-19

Abstract: Based on the life-span theory of control, 320 elderly people aged 60 to 95 in Hangzhou were selected by convenient sampling, this study aimed to investigate the status quo and characteristics of control strategies of the elderly by questionnaire, and to explore the relationship between optimism, perceived social support and subjective well-being, and the mediating effect of control strategies on resources and subjective well-being after controlling age, health condition and the amount of daily activities. The results showed that:The young-old men and women preferred selective primary strategy and compensatory primary strategy, while the old-old women preferred compensatory primary strategy; Optimism and perceived social support can not only influenced subjective well-being directly, but also influenced subjective well-being indirectly by selective primary strategy. This study found that primary control among the elderly still had the prime status. The elderly who had more resources to be more likely to adopt a positive control strategy (selective primary control) to improve their subjective well-being and achieve successful aging.

Key words: the elderly, optimism, perceived social support, control strategies, subjective well-being

Baldwin, D. R., Jackson, D., Okoh, I., & Cannon, R. L. (2011). Resiliency and optimism:an african american senior citizen's perspective. Journal of Black Psychology, 37(1), 24-41.
Baltes, P. B., & Baltes, M. M. (1990). Psychological perspectives on successful aging:the model of selective optimization with compensation. Optometry and Vision Science, 79(Supplement), 342-350.
Barlow, M., Wrosch, C., Heckhausen, J., & Schulz, R. (2016). Control strategies for managing physical health problems in old age:evidence for the motivational theory of life-span development. in Reich, J.W., & Infurna, F.J., Perceived control:theory, research, and practice in the first 50 years. New York:Oxford University Press, 281-307.
Bowling, A., & Dieppe, P. (2005). What is successful ageing and who should define it? British Medical Journal,331, 1548-1551.
Broadbent, J.,Quadros-Wander,S.D.,& Mcgillivray,J.A.(2014). Perceived control's influence on wellbeing in residential care versus community dwelling older adults. Journal of Happiness Studies, 15(4), 845-855.
Chipperfield, J. G. (2007). Gender differences in use of primary and secondary control strategies in older adults with major health problems. Psychology and Health, 22(1), 83-105.
Chu, P. S., Saucier, D. A., & Hafner, E. (2010). Meta-analysis of the relationships between social support and well-being in children and adolescents. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 29(6), 624-645.
Dai, B.B., Zhang, B.S., & Li, J. (2013). Protective factors for subjective well-being in chinese older adults:the roles of resources and activity. Journal of Happiness Studies, 14(4), 1225-1239.
Diener, E., Emmons, R.A., Larsen, R.J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The satisfaction with life scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49(1), 71-75.
Dumitrache, C. G., Windle, G., & Herrera, R. R. (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, 16(3), 633-654.
Engel, C. (2011). Dictator games:a meta study. Experimental Economics, 14(4), 583-610.
Ferguson, S. J., & Goodwin, A. D. (2010). Optimism and well-being in older adults:the mediating role of social support and perceived control. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 71(1), 43-68.
Gergen, M. M., & Gergen, K. J. (2001). Positive aging:new images for a new age. Ageing International, 27(1), 3-23.
Grümer, S., Silbereisen, R. K., & Heckhausen, J. (2013). Subjective well-being in times of social change:congruence of control strategies and perceived control. International Journal of Psychology, 48(6), 1246-1259.
Haase, C. M., Poulin, M. J., & Heckhausen, J. (2012). Happiness as a motivator:positive affect predicts primary control striving for career and educational goals. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 38(8), 1093-1104.
Hall, N. C., Chipperfield, J. G., Heckhausen, J., & Perry, R. P. (2010). Control striving in older adults with serious health problems:A 9-year longitudinal study of survival, health, and well-being. Psychology and Aging, 25(2), 432-445.
Heckhausen, J., & Schulz, R. (1995). A life-span theory of control. Psychological Review, 102(2), 284-304.
Heckhausen, J., & Schulz, R. (1998). Developmental regulation in adulthood:Selection and compensation via primary and secondary control. In J. Heckhausen & C. S. Dweck (Eds.), Motivation and self-regulation across the life span (pp. 50-77). New York, US:Cambridge University Press.
Heckhausen, J., & Schulz, R. (1999). The primacy of primary control is a human universal:a reply to Gould's (1999) critique of the life-span theory of control. Psychological Review, 106(3), 605-609.
Heckhausen, J., Wrosch, C., & Schulz, R. (2010). A motivational theory of life-span development. Psychological Review, 117(1), 32-60.
Hobfoll, S. E. (2002). Social and psychological resources and adaptation. Review of General Psychology, 6(4), 307-324.
Isaacowitz, D. M., & Smith, J. (2003). Positive and negative affect in very old age. Journals of Gerontology, 58(3), 143-152.
Jopp, D., & Rott, C. (2006). Adaptation in very old age:exploring the role of resources, beliefs, and attitudes for centenarians' happiness. Psychology and Aging, 21(2), 266-280.
Jopp, D., & Smith, J. (2006). Resources and life-management strategies as determinants of successful aging:on the protective effect of selection, optimization, and compensation. Psychology and Aging, 21(2), 253-265.
Kurtz, M. E., Kurtz, J. C., Given, C. W., & Given, B. A. (2008). Patient optimism and mastery-do they play a role in cancer patients' management of pain and fatigue? Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 36(1), 1-10.
Lai, J. C. L., & Yue, X.D. (2000). Measuring optimism in hong kong and mainland chinese with the revised life orientation test. Personality and Individual Differences, 28(2000), 781-796.
Leung, B. W., Moneta, G. B., & Chang, C. M. (2005). Think positively and feel positively:optimism and life satisfaction in late life. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 61(4), 335-365.
Parslow, R. A., Lewis, V. J., & Nay, R. (2011). Successful aging:development and testing of a multidimensional model using data from a large sample of older australians. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 59(11), 2077-2083.
Phelan, E. A., Anderson, L. A., Lacroix, A. Z., & Larson, E.B. (2004). Older adults' views of "successful aging"-how do they compare with researchers' definitions? Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 52(2), 211-216.
Pu, J., Hou, H., Ma, R., & Sang, J. (2016). The effect of psychological capital between work-family conflict and job burnout in Chinese university teachers:testing for mediation and moderation. Journal of Health Psychology, 22(14),1799-1807.
Rowe, J. W., & Kahn, R. L. (1999). The future of aging. Contemporary Longterm Care, 22(2), 36-44.
Scheier, M. F., Carver, C. S., & Bridges, M. W. (1994). Distinguishing optimism from neuroticism (and trait anxiety, self-mastery, and self-esteem):a reevaluation of the Life Orientation Test. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67(6), 1063-1078.
Scheier, M. F., Carver, C. S., & Bridges, M. W. (2001). Optimism, pessimism, and psychological well-being. in Chang, E.C., Optimism and pessimism:implications for theory, research, and practice. Washington:American Psychological Association, 189-216.
Sinha, S. P., Nayyar, P., & Sinha, S. P. (2002). Social support and self-control as variables in attitude toward life and perceived control among older people in India. The Journal of Social Psychology, 142(4), 527-540.
Stanojević, D., Krstić, M., Jaredić, B., & Dimitrijević, B. (2014). Proactive coping as a mediator between resources and outcomes:a structural equations modeling analysis. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 9(4), 871-885.
Steverink, N., Westerhof, G. J., Bode, C., & Dittmann-kohli, F. (2001). The personal experience of aging, individual resources, and subjective well-being. Journals of Gerontology, 56(6), 364-373.
Taylor, S. E., & Stanton, A. L. (2007). Coping resources, coping processes, and mental health. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 3, 377-401.
Tovel, H., & Carmel, S. (2014). Maintaining successful aging:the role of coping patterns and resources. Journal of Happiness Studies, 15, 255-270.
Watson, D., Clark, L. A., & Tellegen, A. (1988). Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect:the PANAS scales. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54(6), 1063-1070.
Watt, A. D., Konnert, C. A., & Speirs, C.E.(2015). The mediating roles of primary and secondary control in the relationship between body satisfaction and subjective well-being among middle-aged and older women. The Journals of Gerontology Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 72(4), 603-612.
Wiesmann, U., & Hannich, H. J. (2014). A salutogenic analysis of the well-being paradox in older age. Journal of Happiness Studies, 15(2), 339-355.
Zhou, Y., Zhou, L., Fu, C., Wang, Y., Liu, Q., Wu, H., et al (2015). Socio-economic factors related with the subjective well-being of the rural elderly people living independently in China. International Journal for Equity in Health, 14(5), 1-9.
郭薇, 刘连龙. (2014). 心理资本、社会支持对老年人主观幸福感的影响. 中国健康心理学杂志, 22(7), 1054-1056.
黄丽, 杨廷忠, 季忠民. (2003). 正性负性情绪量表的中国人群适用性研究. 中国心理卫生杂志, 17(1), 54-56.
姜乾金. (1999). 领悟社会支持量表 (PSSS). 见汪向东,王希林,马弘,心理卫生评定量表手册. 北京:中国心理卫生杂志出版社, 131-133.
李梦迪, 骆宏, 钱玥, 牛玉柏. (2016). 心理资本与OPS对老年人成功老龄化的影响. 应用心理学, 22(2), 153-161.
李启明, 陈志霞, 徐海燕. (2016). 双元孝道、祖孙关系与老人刻板印象的关系. 心理发展与教育, 32(4), 444-452.
陆芳, 王叶梅, 陈国鹏. (2010). 资源、SOC策略对老年人主观幸福感的影响. 心理科学, 33(3), 744-746.
宋佳萌, 范会勇. (2013). 社会支持与主观幸福感关系的元分析. 心理科学进展, 21(8), 1357-1370.
谭咏风, 陈国鹏, 单玲玲. (2009). 控制策略的毕生发展. 心理科学, 32(4), 923-925.
杨莹, 寇彧. (2017). 亲社会自主动机对青少年幸福感及亲社会行为的影响:基本心理需要满足的中介作用. 心理发展与教育, 33(2), 163-171.
张书朋, 张庆垚, 李彩娜. (2015). 领悟社会支持性别差异的元分析. 心理发展与教育, 31(4), 393-401.
[1] TANG Yingying, LIN Xiuyun, YIN Jinxiu, HE Ting, ZHOU Shaojia, CAO Zhitao. Congruence and Incongruence of Mother-child Attachment and Grandmother-child Attachment: Links with Children’s Subjective Well-being [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2023, 39(6): 859-868.
[2] PENG Haiyun, SHENG Liang, QIU Fanshuo, ZHOU Ziyan, XIN Sufei. Psychological Burden Reduction Starts from Dealing with Boredom: The Influencing Mechanism of Boredom Proneness on Subjective Well-being among Adolescents [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2023, 39(6): 895-902.
[3] ZENG Zihao, PENG Liyi, ZHAN Lin, LIU Shuangjin, OUYANG Xiaoyou, DING Daoqun, LI Zhihua, HU Yiqiu, FANG Xiaoyi. The Effect of Childhood Maltreatment on College Students’ Depressive Symptoms: The Mediating Role of Subjective Well-being and the Moderation Role of Gene [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2023, 39(2): 276-285.
[4] LI Xingkai, WU Junsheng, YAO Xiaotong, LIU Yingshan, REN Jie, CHEN Suiqing. The Relationship between Autistic and Intellectual Disabled Children's Behavior Problems and Parental Anxiety: The Mediating Role of Parenting Stress and the Moderating Role of Perceived Social Support [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2023, 39(1): 77-84.
[5] LIU Yu, SU Yanjie, CAO Chunmei, DING Yu, FAN Yu. The Relationship between Executive Function and Processing Speed with Athletic Ability of the Community Elderly [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2022, 38(6): 769-777.
[6] HUANG Xiaoxiao, ZHANG Baoshan, YU Guoliang. Diversity of Daily Small Groups and Physical Symptoms of Elderly: The Mediating Effect of Group Positive Emotion and Moderating Effect of Psychological Stress [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2022, 38(5): 729-738.
[7] TIAN Weiyi, XU Jianjie, LYU Guanglin, WANG Yinan. Parental Self-esteem and Adolescents’ Subjective Well-being: The Chain Mediating Roles of Parent-adolescent Trust and Adolescents’ Self-esteem [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2022, 38(3): 331-338.
[8] CHEN Bizhong, ZHENG Xue, SUN Xiaojun. The Impact of Social Media Self-control Failure on Subjective Well-being of Postgraduates and Its Mechanism [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2021, 37(6): 882-888.
[9] YUAN Keman, LI Bailu, LIANG Lichan, BIAN Yufang. Cumulative Contextual Risk and Subjective Well-being in Migrant Children: The Compensatory Effect and Protective Effect of Individual Protective Factors [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2021, 37(4): 546-557.
[10] NIU Kaining, LI Mei, ZHANG Xiangkui. The Relationship Between Adolescents' Friendship Quality and Subjective Well-being: A Meta-analysis [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2021, 37(3): 407-418.
[11] CHEN ZiXun, WANG Hui, FENG Yingxue, LIU Xia. The Effects of Peer Victimization on Left-behind Adolescents' Subjective Well-being: The Roles of Self-esteem and Social Support [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2020, 36(5): 605-614.
[12] JIN Tonglin, WU Yuntena, ZHANG Lu, YANG Xue, JIA Yanru, YANG Hong. The Effect of Perceived Chronic Social Adversity on Aggression of College Students: The Roles of Ruminative Responses and Perceived Social Support [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2020, 36(4): 414-421.
[13] CHI Wentao, SANG Qingsong, SHU Shouli. The Relationship between College Students' Major Intrinsic Motivation and Subjective Well-being: The Mediators of Major Engagement and Subjective Major Achievement [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2020, 36(4): 477-485.
[14] HENG Shupeng, ZHAO Huanfang, NIU Gengfeng, ZHOU Zongkui. Likes on WeChat Moments and Subjective Well-Being: A Mediated Moderation Model [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2020, 36(3): 341-349.
[15] GUO Jinjin, NIU Lu, XIE Xiaochun, WANG Pengcheng, LEI Li. The Association between “Show off Love” and Subjective Well-being of Spectators: The Mediating Role of Self-esteem and the Moderating Role of Attachment [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2020, 36(3): 359-366.
Viewed
Full text


Abstract

Cited

  Shared   
  Discussed   
No Suggested Reading articles found!