The role of optimism, self-esteem, and self-efficacy in moderating the relation between health comparisons and subjective well-being: Results of a nationally representative longitudinal study among older adults

OBJECTIVES: It has been shown that negative health comparisons (i.e., when one's health is viewed as worse than the health of relevant others) are associated with subjective well-being (SWB). However, it remains an open question whether negative consequences of health comparisons on SWB might be attenuated by moderating resilience factors. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate whether optimism, self-esteem, and self-efficacy moderate the relationship between health comparisons and SWB using a longitudinal approach.

DESIGN: Data from wave 3 (2008) to wave 5 (2014) of the German Ageing Survey which is a representative sample of community-dwelling individuals in Germany (≥40 years) were investigated.

METHODS: Validated scales were used to measure optimism, self-esteem, self-efficacy, and SWB. Linear fixed effects regressions were used (with n = 17,136 observations).

RESULTS: Regressions revealed that optimism moderates the relationship between negative health comparisons and negative as well as positive affect. Furthermore, self-efficacy moderates the relationship between negative health comparisons and life satisfaction as well as negative affect. Self-esteem moderates the relationship between health comparisons and negative as well as positive affect.

CONCLUSION: The study findings suggest that the negative consequences of negative health comparisons might be attenuated by optimism, self-esteem, and self-efficacy. Thus, programs aiming at increasing optimism, self-esteem, and self-efficacy might be helpful to maintain SWB. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? One recent study has investigated the relation between health comparisons and subjective well-being (SWB). Longitudinal studies are missing investigating the moderating factors in this relation. What does this study add? Our longitudinal study examined whether resilience factors moderate the relationship between health comparisons and SWB. Optimism moderates the relationship between health comparisons and negative as well as positive affect. Self-efficacy moderates the relation between health comparisons and cognitive well-being and negative affect.