What a difference a year makes: comparing relationships between stressful life events, mood and life satisfaction among older adults, and their working-age counterparts

TY - JOUR

T1 - What a difference a year makes

T2 - comparing relationships between stressful life events, mood and life satisfaction among older adults, and their working-age counterparts

AU - Hannaford, Elizabeth

AU - Moore, Fhionna

AU - Macleod, Fiona J.

N1 - © 2017 Informa UK Limited

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - Objectives: Stressful life events (SLEs) have been linked to depression, anxiety, and reduced life satisfaction. The inoculation hypothesis of aging suggests older adults may be less vulnerable to poor psychological outcomes following SLEs than working-age adults. The current study compared relationships between SLEs, mood and life satisfaction among older adults (65+), and adults aged 50-64, and investigated whether group identification and loneliness moderate these relationships.Method: A community-based sample of 121 Scottish participants responded to measures of SLEs (modified Social Readjustment Rating Scale), symptoms of depression and anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), life satisfaction (Life Satisfaction Index A), group identification (Group Identification Scale), and loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale).Results: In the 50-64 age group, the number of SLEs was significantly associated with greater symptoms of depression and anxiety, and reduced life satisfaction. Group identification and loneliness did not moderate these relationships. There were no significant relationships in the older adult group.Conclusion: The finding of relationships in working-age, but not older adults, supports the inoculation hypothesis of aging. Further research to better understand changes across the lifespan, and inter-relationships with related variables, would be valuable from both theoretical and clinical perspectives.

AB - Objectives: Stressful life events (SLEs) have been linked to depression, anxiety, and reduced life satisfaction. The inoculation hypothesis of aging suggests older adults may be less vulnerable to poor psychological outcomes following SLEs than working-age adults. The current study compared relationships between SLEs, mood and life satisfaction among older adults (65+), and adults aged 50-64, and investigated whether group identification and loneliness moderate these relationships.Method: A community-based sample of 121 Scottish participants responded to measures of SLEs (modified Social Readjustment Rating Scale), symptoms of depression and anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), life satisfaction (Life Satisfaction Index A), group identification (Group Identification Scale), and loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale).Results: In the 50-64 age group, the number of SLEs was significantly associated with greater symptoms of depression and anxiety, and reduced life satisfaction. Group identification and loneliness did not moderate these relationships. There were no significant relationships in the older adult group.Conclusion: The finding of relationships in working-age, but not older adults, supports the inoculation hypothesis of aging. Further research to better understand changes across the lifespan, and inter-relationships with related variables, would be valuable from both theoretical and clinical perspectives.

KW - Aging

KW - life events

KW - mental health

KW - group identification

KW - loneliness

U2 - 10.1080/13607863.2017.1387761

DO - 10.1080/13607863.2017.1387761

M3 - Article

C2 - 29019417

SN - 1360-7863

VL - 22

SP - 1658

EP - 1665

JO - Aging and Mental Health

JF - Aging and Mental Health

IS - 12

ER -