Mental Well-Being in Later Life: The Role of Strengths Use, Meaning in Life, and Self-Perceptions of Ageing.

Abstract

Population ageing requires an understanding of the factors that enhance optimal funtioning in later life. Moreover, for individual and societal well-being it demands a more balanced view of the ageing process that also accentuates human capital and realisation of potential. This study therefore explored the relationships between strengths use, mental well-being, meaning in life, self-perceptions of ageing, and socio-demographic characteristics of older adults. The study sample consisted of 88 older individuals (ages 55-88 years) who completed the following measures: Strenghts Use Scale, Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wll-being Scale, Meaning Life scale, an Attitude Toward Own Ageing. An openended question was added to explore contextual factors that may enable older adults to use their strenghts more. Results: Correlation analysis showed that greater strenghts use was asociated with higher levels of mental well-being in older individuals. Hierarchical redression analysis revealed strenghts use as a significant predictor of mental well-being. Participants with more positive self-perceptions of ageing were applying their strenghts to a greater extent. Although self-perceptions of ageing was not an additional predictor os strenghts use. Furthermore, mediation analysis showed a significant and large indirect effect on strenths use on mental well-being through meaning in life. Various contextual factors such as appreciation of older adults and opportunities for work and engagement have been indicated as avenues to support greater strenghts use. Conclusion: results suggest that practicing strenghts is importat for possitive mental health and the process of ageing well. Strategies to enhance greater strenghts use in the ageing population are discussed.