Self-compassion and Well-being among Older Adults

Two studies assessed the role of self-compassion as a moderator of the relationship between physical health and subjective well-being in the elderly. In Study 1, 132 participants, ranging in age from 67 to 90 years, completed a questionnaire that assessed their perceptions of their physical health,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Self and identity 2012-10, Vol.11 (4), p.428-453
Main Authors: Allen, Ashley Batts, Goldwasser, Eleanor R., Leary, Mark R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aging
Empathy
Identity
Mental health
Older people
Quality of life
Questionnaires
Self compassion
Well-being
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Summary:Two studies assessed the role of self-compassion as a moderator of the relationship between physical health and subjective well-being in the elderly. In Study 1, 132 participants, ranging in age from 67 to 90 years, completed a questionnaire that assessed their perceptions of their physical health, self-compassion, and subjective well-being. Participants who were in good physical health had high subjective well-being regardless of their level of self-compassion. However, for participants with poorer physical health, self-compassion was associated with greater subjective well-being. In Study 2, 71 participants between the ages of 63 and 97 completed a questionnaire assessing self-compassion, well-being, and their willingness to use assistance for walking, hearing, and memory. Self-compassionate participants reported being less bothered by the use of assistance than those low in self-compassion, although the relationship between self-compassion and willingness to use assistive devices was mixed. These findings suggest that self-compassion is associated with well-being in later life and that interventions to promote self-compassion may improve quality of life among older adults.
ISSN:1529-8868
1529-8876
DOI:10.1080/15298868.2011.595082