nach oben

Journal of Happiness Studies

Erschienen in:

14.02.2022 | Research Paper

Purpose in Life: A Reconceptualization for Very Late Life

verfasst von: Keith A. Anderson, Noelle L. Fields, Jessica Cassidy, Lisa Peters-Beumer

Erschienen in: Journal of Happiness Studies | Ausgabe 5/2022

Einloggen

Aktivieren Sie unsere intelligente Suche, um passende Fachinhalte oder Patente zu finden.

search-config

KI-gestützte Suche

Aus

Abstract

Purpose in life has been defined as having goals, aims, objectives, and a sense of directedness that give meaning to one’s life and existence. Scales that measure purpose in life reflect this future-oriented conceptualization and research using these measures has consistently found that purpose in life tends to be lower for older adults than for those in earlier stages of life. In this article, we use an illustrative case study to explore the concept of purpose in life in very late life and critically challenge existing conceptualizations and measures of purpose in life. We examine the two most commonly used measures of purpose in life, the Purpose in Life Test and the Ryff Purpose Subscale and identify specific items that should be reconsidered for use with older adults in very late life. Guided by Socioemotional Selectivity Theory, we then reconceptualize purpose in life in very late life and posit that it consists of three domains—the retrospective past, the near present, and the transcendental post-mortem. We conclude with suggestions on the development of new measures of purpose in life in very late life that are reflective of this shift in time horizons and the specific characteristics of this unique time in life.

Vorheriger Artikel Longitudinal and Age-Related Implications of Primary and Secondary Control for Hedonic and Eudaimonic Well-Being

Nächster Artikel Religious Practice and Life Satisfaction: A Domains-of-Life Approach

Sie haben noch keine Lizenz? Dann Informieren Sie sich jetzt über unsere Produkte:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 102.000 Bücher
über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Automobil + Motoren
Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
Finance + Banking
Management + Führung
Marketing + Vertrieb
Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Jetzt informieren

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 67.000 Bücher
über 340 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Finance + Banking
Management + Führung
Marketing + Vertrieb
Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Jetzt informieren

Ardelt, M. (2007). Wisdom, religiosity, purpose in life, and death attitudes of aging adults. In A. Tomer, G. T. Eliason, & T. P. Wong (Eds.), Existential and spiritual issues in death attitudes (pp. 139–158). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Amaral, A. S., Afonso, R. M., Brandao, D., Teixeira, L., & Ribeiro, O. (2021). Resilience in very advanced ages: A study with Centenarians. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 93(1), 601–618. https://doi.org/10.1177/0091415020926839CrossRef

Araujo, L., Ribeiro, O., & Paul, C. (2017). The role of existential beliefs within the relation of centenarians’ health and well-being. Journal of Religion and Health, 56, 1111–1122. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-016-0297-5CrossRef

Arosio, B., Ostan, R., Mari, D., Damanti, S., Ronchetti, F., Arcudi, S., Scurti, M., Franeschi, C., & Monti, D. (2017). Cognitive status in the oldest old and centenarians: A condition crucial for quality of life methodologically difficult to assess. Mechanisms of Ageing and Development, 165, 185–194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mad.2017.02.010CrossRef

Baltes, P. B., Lindenberger, U., & Staudinger, U.M. (2006). Life-span theory in developmental psychology. In R.M. Lerner (Ed.), Handbook of child psychology. Vol. 1: Theoretical models of human development (6th ed., pp. 569–664). Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470147658.chpsy0111

Beker, N., Sikkes, S. A. M., Hulsman, M., Tesi, N., van der Lee, S. J., Scheltens, P., & Holstege, H. (2020). Longitudinal maintenance of cognitive health in centenarians in the 100-plus study. JAMA Network Open, 3(2), e200094. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.0094CrossRef

Bishop, A. (2011). Spirituality and religiosity connections to mental and physical health among the oldest old. In L. Poon & J. Cohen-Mansfield (Eds.), Understanding well-being in the oldest old (pp. 227–239). Cambridge University Press.CrossRef

Boyle, P. A., Barnes, L. L., Buchman, A. S., & Bennett, D. A. (2009). Purpose in life is associated with mortality among community-dwelling older persons. Psychosomatic Medicine, 71(5), 574–579.CrossRef

Boyle, P. A., Buchman, A. S., Barnes, L. L., & Bennett, D. A. (2010). Effect of a purpose in life on risk of incident Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment in community-dwelling older persons. Archives of General Psychiatry, 67(3), 304–310.CrossRef

Butler, R. N. (1963). The life review: An interpretation of reminiscence in the aged. Psychiatry, 26(1), 65–76. https://doi.org/10.1080/00332747.1963.11023339CrossRef

Carstensen, L. L. (1991). Selectivity theory: Social activity in lifer-span context. In K. W. Schaie (Ed.), Annual review of gerontology and geriatrics (Vol. 11, pp. 195–217). Springer.

Carstensen, L. L. (1995). Evidence for a lifespan theory of socioemotional selectivity. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 4, 151–156. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8721.ep11512261CrossRef

Carstensen, L. L. (2006). The influence of sense of time on human development. Science, 312, 1913–1915. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1127488CrossRef

Charles, S. T., Mather, M., & Carstensen, L. L. (2003). Aging and emotional memory: The forgettable nature of negative images for older adults. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 132(2), 310–324. https://doi.org/10.1037/0096-3445.132.2.310CrossRef

Cheng, A., Leung, Y., & Brodaty, H. (2021). A systematic review of the associations, mediators and moderators of life satisfaction, positive affect and happiness in near-centenarians and centenarians. Aging & Mental Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2021.1891197CrossRef

Cheng, A., Leung, Y., Harrison, F., & Brodaty, H. (2019). The prevalence and predictors of anxiety and depression in near-centenarians and centenarians: A systematic review. International Psychogeriatrics, 31(11), 1539–1558. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1041610219000802CrossRef

Chu, Q., Gruhn, D., & Holland, A. M. (2018). Before I die: The impact of time horizon and age on bucket-list goals. GeroPsych, 31(3), 151–162. https://doi.org/10.1024/1662-9647/a000190CrossRef

Crumbaugh, J. C., & Maholick, L. T. (1964). An experimental study in existentialism: The psychometric approach to Frankl’s concept of noogenic neurosis. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 20(2), 200–207. https://doi.org/10.1002/1097-4679CrossRef

Crumbaugh, J. C., & Maholick, L. T. (1969). Manual of instructions for the Purpose in Life Test. Viktor Frankl Institute of Logotherapy.

Damon, W., Menon, J., & Bronk, K. C. (2003). The development of purpose during adolescence. Applied Developmental Science, 7, 119–128. https://doi.org/10.1207/S1532480XADS0703_2CrossRef

Duarte, N., Teixeira, L., Ribeiro, O., & Paul, C. (2014). Frailty phenotype criteria in centenarians: Findings from the Oporto Centenarian Study. European Geriatric Medicine, 5(6), 371–376. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurger.2014.09.015CrossRef

Erikson, E. H. (1982). The life cycle completed. W.W. Norton & Company.

Frankl, V. E. (1959). Man’s search for meaning. Pocket Books.

Hedberg, P., Brulin, C., & Aléx, L. (2009). Experiences of purpose in life when becoming and being a very old woman. Journal of Women and Aging, 21(2), 125–137. https://doi.org/10.1080/08952840902837145CrossRef

Hedberg, P., Brulin, C., Aléx, L., & Gustafson, Y. (2011). Purpose in life over a five- year period: A longitudinal study among a very old population. International Psychogeriatrics, 23(5), 806–813. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610210002279CrossRef

Hedberg, P., Gustafson, Y., Aléx, L., & Brulin, C. (2010). Depression in relation to purpose in life among a very old population. A five-year follow-up study. Aging & Mental Health, 14(6), 757–763. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607861003713216CrossRef

Hedberg, P., Gustafson, Y., Brulin, C., & Aléx, L. (2013). Purpose in life among very old men. Advances in Aging Research, 2(3), 100–105. https://doi.org/10.4236/aar.2013.23014CrossRef

Herr, M., Jeune, B., Fors, S., Andersen-Ranberg, K., Ankri, J., Arai, Y., et al. (2018). Frailty and associated factors among centenarians in the 5-COOP countries. Gerontology, 64(6), 521–531.CrossRef

Hill, P. L., & Turiano, N. A. (2014). Purpose in life as a predictor of mortality across adulthood. Psychological Science, 25(7), 1482–1486.CrossRef

Irving, J., Davis, S., & Collier, A. (2017). Aging with purpose: Systematic search and review of literature pertaining to older adults and purpose. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 85(4), 403–437. https://doi.org/10.1177/0091415017702908CrossRef

Jopp, D. S., Boerner, K., Ribeiro, O., & Rott, C. (2016a). Life at age 100: An international research agenda for centenarian studies. Journal of Aging & Social Policy, 28(3), 133–147. https://doi.org/10.1080/08959420.2016.1161693CrossRef

Jopp, D. S., Park, M.-K.S., Lehrfeld, J., & Paggi, M. E. (2016b). Physical, cognitive, social and mental health in near-centenarians and centenarians living in New York City: Findings from the Fordham Centenarian Study. BMC Geriatrics, 16(1), 8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-015-0167-0CrossRef

Kastbom, L., Milberg, A., & Karlsson, M. (2017). A good death from the perspective of palliative cancer patients. Journal of Supportive Care in Cancer, 25, 933–939. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-016-3483-9CrossRef

Kim, H., Theyer, B., & Munn, J. C. (2019). The relationship between perceived ageism and depressive symptoms in later life: Understanding the mediating effects of self-perception of aging and purpose in life using structural equation modeling. Educational Gerontology, 45(2), 105–119. https://doi.org/10.1080/03601277.2019.1583403CrossRef

Kitayama, S., Berg, M. K., & Chopik, W. J. (2020). Culture and well-being in late adulthood: Theory and evidence. American Psychologist, 75(4), 567. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000614CrossRef

Krok, D. (2015). The role of meaning in life within the relations of religious coping and psychological well-being. Journal of Religion and Health, 54, 2292–2308. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-014-9983-3CrossRef

Lewis, N. A., Turiano, N. A., Payne, B. R., & Hill, P. L. (2017). Purpose in life and cognitive functioning in adulthood. Neuropsychology, Development, and Cognition: Section b, Aging, Neuropsychology and Cognition, 24(6), 662–671.CrossRef

Martinson, M., & Berridge, C. (2015). Successful aging and its discontents: A systematic review of the social gerontology literature. The Gerontologist, 255(1), 58–69. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnu037CrossRef

McKee, P. (2008). Plato’s theory of late life reminiscence. Journal of Aging, Humanities, and the Arts, 2(3–4), 266–285. https://doi.org/10.1080/19325610802370720CrossRef

Moreman, C. M. (2018). Beyond the threshold: Afterlife beliefs and experiences in the world religions. Rowman & Littlefield.

Musich, S., Wang, S. S., Kraemer, S., Hawkins, K., & Wicker, E. (2018). Purpose in life and positive health outcomes among older adults. Population Health Management, 21(2), 139–147. https://doi.org/10.1089/pop.2017.0063CrossRef

Pew Research Center. (2014). Religious Landscape Study: Belief in heaven. https://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/belief-in-heaven/

Pinquart, M. (2002). Creating and maintaining purpose in life in old age: A meta-analysis. Ageing International, 27(2), 90–114. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-002-1004-2CrossRef

Reker, G. T., Peacock, E. J., & Wong, P. T. P. (1987). Meaning and purpose in life and well-being: A life span perspective. Journal of Gerontology, 42(1), 44–49. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronj/42.1.44CrossRef

Ribeiro, C. C., Yassuda, M. S., & Neri, A. L. (2020). Purpose in life in adulthood and older adulthood: Integrative review. Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, 25(6), 2127–2142. https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232020256.20602018CrossRef

Rowe, J. W., & Kahn, R. L. (1997). Successful aging. The Gerontologist, 37, 433–440. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/37.4.433CrossRef

Ryff, C. (1989). Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57, 1069–1081. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.57.6.1069CrossRef

Ryff, C. D. (2014). Psychological well-being revisited: Advances in science and practice. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 83(1), 1–31. https://doi.org/10.1159/000353263CrossRef

Ryff, C., & Keyes, C. (1995). The structure of psychological well-being revisited. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 69, 719–727. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.69.4.719CrossRef

Schulenberg, S. E., Schnetzer, L. W., & Buchanan, E. M. (2011). The purpose in life test-short form: Development and psychometric support. Journal of Happiness Studies, 12, 861–876. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-010-9231-9CrossRef

Shaffer, J. (2021). Centenarians, supercentenarians: We must develop new measurements suitable for our oldest old. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 655497. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.655497CrossRef

Social Security Administration. (2021). Retirement & survivors’ benefits: Life expectancy calculator. https://www.ssa.gov/oact/population/longevity.html

Tam, W., Poon, S. N., Mahendran, R., Kua, E. H., & Wu, X. V. (2021). The effectiveness of reminiscence-based intervention on improving psychological well-being in cognitively intact older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Nursing Studies. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2020.103847

Tornstam, L. (1989). Gero-transcendence: A reformation of the disengagement theory. Aging, 1(1), 55–63. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03323876CrossRef

Windsor, T. D., Curtis, R. G., & Luszcz, M. A. (2015). Sense of purpose as a psychological resource for aging well. Developmental Psychology, 51(7), 975–986.CrossRef

Xu, X., Zhao, Y., Xia, S., Cui, P., Tang, W., Hu, X., & Wu, B. (2020). Quality of life and its influencing factors among centenarians in Nanjing, China: A cross sectional study. Social Indication Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-020-02399-4CrossRef

Yalom, I. (2008). Staring at the sun: Overcoming the terror of death. Humanistic Psychologist, 36, 283–297. https://doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2018.1432735CrossRef

Yang, J. A., Wilhelmi, B. L., & McGlynn, K. (2018). Enhancing meaning when facing later life losses. Clinical Gerontologist, 41(5), 498–507. https://doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2018.1432735CrossRef

Titel: Purpose in Life: A Reconceptualization for Very Late Life
verfasst von: Keith A. Anderson
Noelle L. Fields
Jessica Cassidy
Lisa Peters-Beumer
Publikationsdatum: 14.02.2022
Verlag: Springer Netherlands
Erschienen in: Journal of Happiness Studies / Ausgabe 5/2022
Print ISSN: 1389-4978
Elektronische ISSN: 1573-7780
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-022-00512-7

Springer Professional

Abstract

Bitte loggen Sie sich ein, um Zugang zu Ihrer Lizenz zu erhalten.

Sie haben noch keine Lizenz? Dann Informieren Sie sich jetzt über unsere Produkte:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Weitere Artikel der Ausgabe 5/2022

The Influence of Experiential Avoidance, Humility and Patience on the Association Between Religious/Spiritual Exploration and Well-Being

Lonely in a Crowd: Cohort Size and Happiness in the United Kingdom

Psychological Interventions for Well-Being in Healthy Older Adults: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Correction to: The Importance of the Neighbourhood Environment and Social Capital for Happiness in a Vulnerable District: The Case of the Pajarillos District in Spain

The Intrinsic Value of Childcare: Positive Returns of Childcare Time on Parents’ Well-Being and Life Satisfaction in Italy

Torn Between Valences: Mixed Emotions Predict Poorer Psychological Well-Being and Job Burnout