Abstract
The aim of this study was to explore the role of character strengths and their associations to life satisfaction in older people. We were interested in studying several transitions that are specific for older people: aging, retirement, living alone, and being widowed. We examined the relationships of these demographic characteristics and living conditions with character strengths and studied their effects on the association of character strengths with life satisfaction. In a cross-sectional analysis, 15,598 older adults (aged 46–93 years) who had completed measures on character strengths, life satisfaction, and demographic characteristics and living conditions were selected from an existing database. Overall, analyses revealed positive associations of most character strengths with age, and higher scores in most character strengths for the employed (vs. the retired) and those living with a partner (vs. those living alone), while only few relationships with being widowed (vs. being married) were observed. Further, the contribution of character strengths to life satisfaction generally decreased slightly with age, but increased for certain character strengths, such as modesty or prudence. Also, stronger relationships between several character strengths and life satisfaction were found for retired people and those living alone, while being widowed did not affect these relationships. The results demonstrate how character strengths might contribute to the life satisfaction of older adults in various living conditions and thereby offer a starting point for strengths-based programs in later life.
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
For several correlations with dichotomous variables (“point-biserial correlations”; such as with retirement status, gender, etc.) equal variances could not be assumed due to the large sample size. Thus, the reported relationships might yield a (minor) underestimation of the true relationships. Correcting for the inequality of variances would not have affected the significance of the results.
For comparability reasons, we did not compute partial correlations controlling for age and gender in the different subgroups separately, since this would yield different regression weights for the control variables in every subgroup. Instead, we computed residualized scores (i.e., controlled for age and gender) for both sets of variables (i.e., life satisfaction and character strengths) in the total sample and then analyzed the correlations among the residua in the subgroups.
References
Baumann, D., & Eiroa-Orosa, F. J. (2016). Mental well-being in later life: The role of strengths use, meaning in life, and self-perceptions of ageing. International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology, 1, 21–39. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41042-017-0004-0.
Becker, D., & Marecek, J. (2008). Dreaming the American dream: Individualism and positive psychology. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 2, 1767–1780. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-9004.2008.00139.x.
Bennett, D. A., Schneider, J. A., Tang, Y., Arnold, S. E., & Wilson, R. S. (2006). The effect of social networks on the relation between Alzheimer’s disease pathology and level of cognitive function in old people: a longitudinal cohort study. The Lancet Neurology, 5, 406–412. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(06)70417-3.
Blanchflower, D. G., & Oswald, A. J. (2008). Is well-being U-shaped over the life cycle? Social Science & Medicine, 66, 1733–1749. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2008.01.030.
Busch, H., & Hofer, J. (2012). Self-regulation and milestones of adult development: Intimacy and generativity. Developmental Psychology, 48, 282–293. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0025521.
Buschor, C., Proyer, R. T., & Ruch, W. (2013). Self- and peer-rated character strengths: How do they relate to satisfaction with life and orientations to happiness? The Journal of Positive Psychology, 8, 116–127. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2012.758305.
Charles, S., & Carstensen, L. L. (2010). Social and emotional aging. Annual Review of Psychology, 61, 383–409. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.093008.100448.
Christopher, J. C., & Hickinbottom, S. (2008). Positive psychology, ethnocentrism, and the disguised ideology of individualism. Theory & Psychology, 18, 563–589. https://doi.org/10.1177/0959354308093396.
Cohen, A. B., & Koenig, H. G. (2003). Religion, religiosity and spirituality in the biopsychosocial model of health and ageing. Ageing International, 28, 215–241. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-002-1005-1.
Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The satisfaction with life scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49, 71–75. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13.
Diener, E., Suh, E. M., Lucas, R. E., & Smith, H. L. (1999). Subjective well-being: Three decades of progress. Psychological Bulletin, 125, 276–302. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.125.2.276.
Duffy, R. D., Torrey, C. L., England, J., & Tebbe, E. A. (2017). Calling in retirement: A mixed methods study. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 12, 399–413. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2016.1187201.
Erikson, E. H. (1980). Identity and the life cycle. New York: Norton (Originally published 1959).
Forbes, M. K., Spence, K. M., Wuthrich, V. M., & Rapee, R. M. (2015). Mental health and wellbeing of older workers in Australia. Work, Aging and Retirement, 1, 202–213. https://doi.org/10.1093/workar/wav004.
Fratiglioni, L., Paillard-Borg, S., & Winblad, B. (2004). An active and socially integrated lifestyle in late life might protect against dementia. Lancet Neurology, 3, 343–353. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(04)00767-7.
Fry, P. S. (2000). Religious involvement, spirituality and personal meaning for life: Existential predictors of psychological wellbeing in community-residing and institutional care elders. Aging & Mental Health, 4, 375–387. https://doi.org/10.1080/713649965.
Gana, K., Bailly, N., Saada, Y., Joulain, M., & Alaphilippe, D. (2013). Does life satisfaction change in old age: Results from an 8-year longitudinal study. Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 68, 540–552. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbs093.
Gill, S. C., Butterworth, P., Rodgers, B., Anstey, K. J., Villamil, E., & Melzer, D. (2006). Mental health and the timing of men’s retirement. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 41, 515–522. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-006-0064-0.
Gwozdz, W., & Sousa-Poza, A. (2010). Ageing, health and life satisfaction of the oldest old: An analysis for Germany. Social Indicators Research, 97, 397–417. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-009-9508-8.
Hall, D. T., & Las Heras, M. (2013). Personal growth through career work. In K. S. Cameron & G. Spreitzer (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of positive organizational scholarship (pp. 507–518). New York: Oxford University Press.
Hammond, C. (2004). Impacts of lifelong learning upon emotional resilience, psychological and mental health: Fieldwork evidence. Oxford Review of Education, 30, 551–568. https://doi.org/10.1080/030549804200030300.
Harzer, C. (2016). The eudaimonics of human strengths: The relations between character strengths and well-being. In J. Vittersø (Ed.), Handbook of eudaimonic well-being (pp. 307–322). Cham: Springer International Publishing.
Heintz, S., Kramm, C., & Ruch, W. (2017). A meta-analysis of gender differences in character strengths and age, nation, and measure as moderators. The Journal of Positive Psychology. Advance online publication, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2017.1414297.
Höfer, S., Gander, F., Höge, T., & Ruch, W. (2019). Editorial to the special issue „Character strengths, well- being, and health in educational and vocational settings”. Applied Research in Quality of Life, accepted.
Höge, T., Strecker, C., Hausler, M., Huber, A., & Höfer, S. (2019). Perceived socio-moral climate and the applicability of signature character strengths at work: a study among hospital physicians. Applied Research in Quality of Life, accepted.
Huber, A., Strecker, C., Hausler, M., Kachel, T., Höge, T., & Höfer, S. (2019). Possession and applicability of signature character strengths: What is essential for well-being, work engagement, and burnout? Applied Research in Quality of Life, accepted.
Isaacowitz, D. M., Vaillant, G. E., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2003). Strengths and satisfaction across the adult lifespan. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 57, 181–201. https://doi.org/10.2190/61EJ-LDYR-Q55N-UT6E.
Jahoda, M. (1958). Current concepts of positive mental health. New York: Basic Books.
Jahoda, M. (1981). Work, employment, and unemployment: Values, theories, and approaches in social research. American Psychologist, 36, 184–191. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.36.2.184.
Kashdan, T., & Steger, M. (2007). Curiosity and pathways to well-being and meaning in life: Traits, states, and everyday behaviors. Motivation and Emotion, 31, 159–173. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-007-9068-7.
Keyes, C. L. M. (2005). Mental illness and/or mental health? Investigating axioms of the complete state model of health. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73, 539–548. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.73.3.539.
Keyes, C. L. M. (2007). Promoting and protecting mental health as flourishing. A complementary strategy for improving national mental health. American Psychologist, 62, 95–108. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.62.2.95.
Kim, J. E., & Moen, P. (2002). Retirement transitions, gender, and psychological well-being: A life-course, ecological model. The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 57, 212–222. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/57.3.P212.
Kunzmann, U., Little, T. D., & Smith, J. (2000). Is age-related stability of subjective well-being a paradox? Cross-sectional and longitudinal evidence from the Berlin aging study. Psychology and Aging, 15, 511–526. https://doi.org/10.1037/0882-7974.15.3.511.
Lamers, S. M. A., Westerhof, G. J., Bohlmeijer, E. T., & Keyes, C. L. M. (2013). Mental health and illness in relation to physical health across the lifespan. In J. D. Sinnott (Ed.), Positive psychology: Advances in understanding adult motivation (pp. 19–33). New York: Springer.
Linley, P. A., Maltby, J., Wood, A. M., Joseph, S., Harrington, S., Peterson, C., et al. (2007). Character strengths in the United Kingdom: The VIA inventory of strengths. Personality and Individual Differences, 43, 341–351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2006.12.004.
Martínez-Martí, M., & Ruch, W. (2014). Character strengths and well-being across the life span: Data from a representative sample of German-speaking adults living in Switzerland. Frontiers in Psychology, 5. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01253.
Maslow, A. H. (1968). Toward a psychology of being (2nd ed.). Princeton: Van Nostrand.
McAdams, D. P. (2013). The positive psychology of adult generativity: Caring for the next generation and constructing a redemptive life. In J. D. Sinnott (Ed.), Positive psychology: Advances in understanding adult motivation (pp. 191–205). New York: Springer.
McGregor, I., & Little, B. R. (1998). Personal projects, happiness, and meaning: On doing well and being yourself. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74, 494–512. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.74.2.494.
Meyers, C. M., Kooij, D., Kroon, B., de Reuver, R., & van Woerkom, M. (2019). Organizational support for strengths use, work engagement, and contextual performance: The moderating role of age. Applied Research in Quality of Life, accepted.
Musick, M. A., Herzog, A. R., & House, J. S. (1999). Volunteering and mortality among older adults: Findings from a national sample. The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 54, 173–180. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/54B.3.S173.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (2017). OECD better life index. Health. Retrieved from: http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/topics/health/. Accessed 18 Dec 2017.
Park, N., Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2004). Strengths of character and well-being. Journal of Social & Clinical Psychology, 23, 603–619. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.23.5.603.50748.
Paul, K. I., & Batinic, B. (2010). The need for work: Jahoda’s latent functions of employment in a representative sample of the German population. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 31, 45–64. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.622.
Pepin, G., & Deutscher, B. (2011). The lived experience of Australian retirees: ‘I’m retired, what do I do now? The British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74, 419–426. https://doi.org/10.4276/030802211X13153015305556.
Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2004). Character strengths and virtues: A handbook and classification. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Peterson, C., Park, N., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2005). Assessment of character strengths. In G. P. Koocher, J. C. Norcross, & S. S. Hill III (Eds.), Psychologists’ desk reference (2nd ed., pp. 93–98). New York: Oxford University Press.
Pinquart, M. (2002). Creating and maintaining purpose in life in old age: a metaanalysis. Ageing International, 27, 90–114. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-002-1004-2.
Proyer, R. T., Gander, F., Wyss, T., & Ruch, W. (2011). The relation of character strengths to past, present, and future life satisfaction among German-speaking women. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, 3, 370–384. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1758-0854.2011.01060.x.
Proyer, R. T., Gander, F., Wellenzohn, S., & Ruch, W. (2013a). What good are character strengths beyond subjective well-being? The contribution of the good character on self-reported health-oriented behavior, physical fitness, and the subjective health status. Journal of Positive Psychology, 8, 222–232. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2013.777767.
Proyer, R., Ruch, W., & Buschor, C. (2013b). Testing strengths-based interventions: A preliminary study on the effectiveness of a program targeting curiosity, gratitude, hope, humor, and zest for enhancing life satisfaction. Journal of Happiness Studies, 14, 275–292. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-012-9331-9.
Rogers, C. (1961). On becoming a person. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
Ruch, W., Huber, A., Beermann, U., & Proyer, R. T. (2007). Character strengths as predictors of the “good life” in Austria, Germany and Switzerland. In Romanian Academy, “George Barit“ Institute of History, Department of Social Research (Ed.), Studies and researches in social sciences (Vol. 16, pp. 123–131). Cluj-Napoca: Argonaut Press.
Ruch, W., Proyer, R. T., Harzer, C., Park, N., Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2010a). Values in action inventory of strengths (VIA-IS): Adaptation and validation of the German version and the development of a peer-rating form. Journal of Individual Differences, 31, 138–149. https://doi.org/10.1027/1614-0001/a000022.
Ruch, W., Proyer, R. T., & Weber, M. (2010b). Humor as character strength among the elderly: Theoretical considerations. Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie, 43, 8–12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00391-009-0090-0.
Schnell, T. (2011). Individual differences in meaningmaking: Considering the variety of sources of meaning, their density and diversity. Personality and Individual Differences, 51, 667–673. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2011.06.006.
Seligman, M. E. P. (2011). Flourish: A visionary new understanding of happiness and well-being. New York: Free Press.
Seligman, M. E., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2000). Positive psychology: An introduction. American Psychologist, 55, 5–14. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.5.
Snyder, C. R., Lopez, S. J., Edwards, L. M., Teramoto Pedrotti, J., Porsser, E. C., LaRue Walton, S., et al. (2003). Measuring and labeling the positive and the negative. In S. J. Lopez & C. R. Snyder (Eds.), Positive psychological assessment: A handbook of models and measures (pp. 21–39). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Strecker, C., Huber, A., Höge, T., Hausler, M., & Höfer, S. (2019). Identifying thriving workplaces in hospitals: Work characteristics and the applicability of character strengths at work. Applied Research in Quality of Life, accepted.
Swan, G. E., & Carmelli, D. (1996). Curiosity and mortality in aging adults: A 5-year follow-up of the Western collaborative group study. Psychology and Aging, 11, 449–453. https://doi.org/10.1037/0882-7974.11.3.449.
Vaillant, G. E. (2004). Positive aging. In P. A. Linley & S. Joseph (Eds.), Positive psychology in practice (pp. 561–577). Hoboken: Wiley.
van Solinge, H., & Henkens, K. (2008). Adjustment to and satisfaction with retirement: Two of a kind? Gerontologist, 45, 628–629. https://doi.org/10.1037/0882-7974.23.2.422.
Veenhoven, R. (2008). Healthy happiness: Effects of happiness on physical health and the consequences for preventive health care. Journal of Happiness Studies, 9, 449–469. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-006-9042-1.
Wagner, L., Gander, F., Proyer, R. T., & Ruch, W. (2019). Character strengths and PERMA: Investigating the relationships of character strengths with a multidimensional framework of well-being. Applied Research in Quality of Life. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-018-9695-z.
Walker, A. (2002). A strategy for active ageing. International Social Security Review, 55, 121–139. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-246X.00118.
Wenger, G. C., Davies, R., Shahtahmasebi, S., & Scott, A. (1996). Social isolation and loneliness in old age: Review and model refinement. Ageing and Society, 16, 333–358. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X00003457.
Wood, A. M., & Joseph, S. (2010). The absence of positive psychological (eudaimonic) well-being as a risk factor for depression: A ten year cohort study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 122, 213–217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2009.06.032.
Wood, A. M., Froh, J. J., & Geraghty, A. W. A. (2010). Gratitude and well-being: A review and theoretical integration. Clinical Psychology Review, 30, 890–905. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2010.03.005.
World Health Organization. (2002). Active ageing: A policy framework. Geneva: World Health Organization.
World Health Organization. (2004). Promoting mental health: concepts, emerging evidence, practice (summary report) Geneva.
World Health Organization (2006). Preamble to the constitution of the World Health Organization basic documents (45th ed.). Geneva. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/governance/eb/who_constitution_en.pdf
World Health Organization. (2011). Global health and aging. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/ageing/publications/global_health/en/
Wrosch, C., Scheier, M. F., Carver, C. S., & Schulz, R. (2003). The importance of goal disengagement in adaptive self-regulation: When giving up is beneficial. Self and Identity, 2, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298860309021.
Funding
This study has been supported by a research grant from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF; grant 100014_172723 awarded to WR).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Electronic supplementary material
ESM 1
(DOCX 16 kb)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Baumann, D., Ruch, W., Margelisch, K. et al. Character Strengths and Life Satisfaction in Later Life: an Analysis of Different Living Conditions. Applied Research Quality Life 15, 329–347 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-018-9689-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-018-9689-x