Attitudes Toward Aging And Happiness In Chinese Old Adults：A Mediating Effect of Spirituality

Abstract

Background: Attitudes toward aging in old adults are critical for their adjustment, health-promoting behavior, quality of life and life satisfaction. However, fairly little is known about the inner mechanism between attitudes toward aging and happiness in Chinse old adults. This study examined the relationship between attitudes toward aging and happiness in old adults by introducing the mediator of spirituality in a Chinese context. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study among persons aged 50 to 100 years old was carried out in 16 selected cities of 9 provinces (municipality) in Western,Central,and Eastern China. Trained research assistants collected data by face to face interview with the aid of online questionnaire. The Attitude to Aging Questionnaire (AAQ),Howden’ Spirituality Assessment (SA),and Memorial University of Newfoundland Scale of Happiness (MUNSH) were used to measure participants’ attitudes toward aging,spirituality and happiness. Data were analyzed using SPSS 25 and AMOS 24.Results: The mean scores of AAQ and its three domains of psychosocial loss, physical change and psychological growth,spirituality and happiness were 81.85(+10.39), 26.46(+4.97), 28.34(+4.69), 27.01(+4.02),101.06 (+12.88),and 31.72 (+9.87), respectively. Three domains, spirituality and happiness were positively correlated with each other. The spirituality acted as a full mediator on the positive relationship between the two domains of physical change and psychological growth and happiness.Conclusions: First, Chinese old adults’ attitudes toward aging was positive and positively related to spirituality and happiness; second, Chinese old adults’ spirituality was high and positively related to happiness; third, Chinese old adults’ happiness was fair and the significantly positive association between old adults’ attitude toward aging (i.e. physical change and psychological growth) and happiness was entirely due to the growth of spirituality.