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
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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. / Hajek, André; König, Hans-Helmut.
In: BRIT J HEALTH PSYCH, Vol. 24, No. 3, 09.2019, p. 547-570.Research output: SCORING: Contribution to journal › SCORING: Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - 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
AU - Hajek, André
AU - König, Hans-Helmut
N1 - © 2019 The British Psychological Society.
PY - 2019/9
Y1 - 2019/9
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Journal Article
U2 - 10.1111/bjhp.12367
DO - 10.1111/bjhp.12367
M3 - SCORING: Journal article
C2 - 30927338
VL - 24
SP - 547
EP - 570
JO - BRIT J HEALTH PSYCH
JF - BRIT J HEALTH PSYCH
SN - 1359-107X
IS - 3
ER -