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Personality, Cognitive Adaptation, and Marital Satisfaction as Predictors of Well-Being among Older Married Adults

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 March 2010

Norm O'Rourke
Norm O'Rourke*
Affiliation:
Simon Fraser Universityat Harbour Centre
*
Requests for offprints should be sent to: / Les demandes de tirés-à-part doivent être adressées à : Norm O'Rourke, Ph.D., R.Psych., Department of Gerontology, Simon Fraser University at Harbour Centre, 515 West Hastings Street, Suite #2800, Vancouver, BC V6B 5K3. ([email protected])
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Abstract

The current study examines constructs that contribute to the well-being of an international sample of older married adults. A convenience sample of 208 participants was recruited through an Internet site as well as more traditional means such as newspaper advertisements and contact with community groups. The resulting structural equation model provides further support for the revised theory of cognitive adaptation. Within this model, the direct and indirect contributions of personality, marital satisfaction, and cognitive adaptation are examined in relation to well-being. Contrary to previous findings, personality appears to have an indirect effect upon both marital satisfaction and well-being. Cognitive adaptation, in contrast, has both a direct and indirect effect upon the well-being of older adults. Limitations of use of the Internet as a vehicle for data collection are considered as well as directions for future study.

Résumé

La présente étude porte sur les divers concepts qui ont contribué au bien-être d'un échantillon international de personnes mariées du troisième âge. Un échantillon de commodité constitué de 208 participants a été recruté au moyen d'un site Internet ainsi que de méthodes plus traditionnelles comme des annonces dans les journaux et des contacts avec des groupes communautaires. Le modèle d'équation structurelle obtenu tend à appuyer davantage la version révisée de la théorie de l'adaptation cognitive. Dans le cadre de ce modèle, la contribution directe et indirecte de la personnalité, de la satisfaction à l'égard du mariage et de l'adaptation cognitive est étudiée en regard du bien-être. Contrairement aux résultats de recherches antérieures, la personnalité semble avoir un effet indirect sur la satisfaction à l'égard du mariage et sur le bien-être. L'adaptation cognitive, par contre, a un effet direct et indirect sur le bien-être des personnes âgées. L'étude aborde les contraintes liées à l'utilisation d'Internet, à titre de moyen pour la cueillette de données, et fournit des orientations pour des recherches ultérieures.

Keywords

cognitive adaptationmarital satisfactionpersonalitywell-beingagingadaptation cognitivesatisfaction à l'égard du mariagepersonnalité, bien-être
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 24 , Issue 3 , Fall/Automne 2005 , pp. 211 - 224
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2005

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