Personal Meaning, Optimism, and Choice: Existential Predictors of Depression in Community and Institutional Elderly

Abstract

The psychosocial model of mental health posits that late-life depression arises from the loss of self-esteem, loss of meaningful roles, loss of significant others, and diminished social contacts. This study examined the unique, combined, and interactive contribution of existential variables (personal meaning, choice/responsibleness, optimism) and traditional measures (social resources, physical health) as predictors of depression in institutionalized and community-residing older adults, average age 77.8 years. Using multiple hierarchical regression, the results showed that choice/responsibleness, social resources, and physical health predicted depression in community elderly; personal meaning, optimism, social resources, and physical health predicted depression in institutionalized elderly. In both samples, the existential variables accounted for unique variance in depression over and above that accounted for by traditional measures. The important role of existential constructs in transcending personal and social losses and feelings of depression are discussed.

Challenging Architecture as We Grow Older

“…Following the same direction, co-housing developments confer social roles on the residents, thus removing the feeling of loneliness and alienation (Jang, Haley, Small,& Mortimer, 2002;Reker, 1997).…”

Psychosocial learning environments and the mediating effect of personal meaning upon Satisfaction with Education

“…During the second half of the 20th century an emergent body of research documented the study of existential meaning and life purpose, particularly in the areas of gerontology (Ebersole & DePaola, 1987Depaola & Ebersole, 1995;Reker, 1991Reker, , 1992Reker, , 1994Reker, , 1997Reker, , 2000Reker, Peacock & Wong, 1987;Reker & Chamberlain, 2000;Reker & Wong, 1988), holistic nursing and health (Bauer-Wu & Farran, 2005;Farran, Graham & Loukissa, 2000), and in existential, clinical, positive, and social psychology (Damon, 2008;Battista & Almond, 1973;Csikszentimiha1yi, 1990;Debats, 2000;Frankl, 1963;Maddi, 1970;Maslow, 1968;Seligman & (2000); Yalom, 1980;Zika & Chamberlain, 1987, 1992. These disciplines have roots in the modern school of the existential philosophers Kierkegaard, Heidegger, Jaspers, Tolstoy, and Sarte, as well as in the humanist psychology of Maslow, Rogers, Assagioli, and May (Lurie, 2000;Maddi, 1968;Yalom, 1980).…”

The stories we live by : the adaptive role of reminiscence in later life

“…The concept of mastery refers to the extent to which individuals believe they are in control of their important life experiences . Meaning in life can be defi ned as having a sense of direction and order, a reason for existence, a clear sense of personal identity, and a high degree of social consciousness (Reker, 1997). Several studies with older adults demonstrate strong relationships of mastery and meaning in life with mental health.…”

“…Other studies have also shown that high levels of mastery facilitate adaptation to distress in the face of stressful events (Jang, Haley, Small & Mortimer, 2002;Kempen, van Heuvelen, van Sonderen, van den Brink, Kooijman & Ormel, 1999;Kempen Jelicic & Ormel, 1997;Roberts, Dunkle & Haug, 1994;Schieman & Turner 1998). Another line of research suggests that older adults with a strong sense of meaning in life report better mental health than those with less meaning in their lives (Nygren, Alex, Jonsen, Gustafson, Norberg & Lundman, 2005;Reker, 1997). In a large meta-analysis, showed that purpose in life (meaning) has a strong negative correlation with depression.…”

“…The concept of mastery refers to the extent to which individuals believe they are in control of their important life experiences . Meaning in life can be defi ned as having a sense of direction and order, a reason for existence, a clear sense of personal identity, and a high degree of social consciousness (Reker, 1997). Mastery and meaning are theoretically related resources; for example, manageability (mastery) and meaningfulness (meaning) comprise components of Antonovsky's model of sense of coherence (Antonovsky, 1993), whereas environmental mastery (mastery) and purpose in life (meaning) are two of the six components of Ryff's model of psychological well-being (Ryff, 1989).…”