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Journal of Happiness Studies

Erschienen in:

01.03.2012

Age-Related Differences in Lay Conceptions of Well-Being and Experienced Well-Being

verfasst von: Ethan A. McMahan, David Estes

Erschienen in: Journal of Happiness Studies | Ausgabe 1/2012

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Abstract

Conceptions of well-being are defined as a system of beliefs concerning the nature and experience of well-being and can be described generally by the degree to which four dimensions, representing (1) the experience of pleasure, (2) avoidance of negative experience, (3) selfdevelopment, and (4) contribution to others, are emphasized. A first main objective of the current study was to investigate age-related differences in younger and older adults’ conceptions of well-being. A second main objective was to address whether conceptions of well-being are differentially associated with experienced well-being in younger and older adults. Results indicated several age-related differences in conceptions of well-being, with younger adults reporting more emphasis on the experience of pleasure and self-development, older adults reporting more emphasis on avoidance of negative experience, and younger and older adults reporting similar levels of emphasis on contribution to others. Results further indicated several age-related differences in associations between the experience of pleasure and avoidance of negative experience dimensions and well-being, with these two dimensions being more strongly and positively associated with well-being in older adults. Self-development and contribution to others were found to be positively associated with well-being regardless of age.

Vorheriger Artikel Life Satisfaction and Political Participation: Evidence from the United States

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Titel: Age-Related Differences in Lay Conceptions of Well-Being and Experienced Well-Being
verfasst von: Ethan A. McMahan
David Estes
Publikationsdatum: 01.03.2012
Verlag: Springer Netherlands
Erschienen in: Journal of Happiness Studies / Ausgabe 1/2012
Print ISSN: 1389-4978
Elektronische ISSN: 1573-7780
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-011-9251-0

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