Abstract

The recent gerontological literature confirms that life-strengths are critical to the development of older adults' identity. Based on a review of the literature on aging, we present a conceptual framework and discourse on individuals' perceptions of their most valued sources of life-strengths from the psychological perspectives of existential-humanistic theory and social-cognitive theory. Viewed from an existential-humanistic perspective, individuals' major sources of life-strengths are rooted in individuals' definitions of personal meaning and purpose for life, in their religious faith and spiritual values and beliefs. From the perspective of social-cognitive theory, individuals' major sources of life-strengths derive largely from their self-efficacy and control beliefs. We examine elements that bridge across these two perspectives and we identify sets of psychosocial resources that are seen to facilitate resilience from both perspectives, and are also valued within a broad historical-cultural framework. We conclude that some individuals function more optimally than others because they have more successfully identified their most valued sources of life-strengths and psychosocial resources consistent with their belief system.

Introduction

What do we know about the sources of life-strengths that contribute to resilient aging and well-being of older adults? The answer is surprisingly little, compared with what we know about mental illness, dysfunction, and disorder in later adulthood. To date, the topic of human strengths and their determinants has been understudied. A lot is known about the genesis of depression, interpersonal stress, cognitive impairment, and physical decline in late-life functioning.

Abstract

Many factors affect the observed increase of mortality following loss of a spouse. In the research reported in this chapter, we focus on the influence of recently recognized psychosocial resource factors in enhancing the resilience and healthy longevity of older widows. We conducted a 6.5-year longitudinal study of the mortality risk of 385 older widows, who were assessed at baseline on measures of perceived psychosocial resources, health-related self-reports, and psychological traits of challenge and control. A Cox regression analysis of predictor variables was used to examine the mortality risk related to the baseline measures of psychosocial resources and psychological trait measures. Those widows who survived longer were mainly those with higher scores on spiritual resources, and on resources of family stability, social engagement, and commitment to life tasks. In contrast, high scores on control and challenge traits had an unexpected negative effect on longevity. Our findings confirm that psychosocial resource factors have a significant effect on resilience and longevity.

Introduction

A broad range of factors can influence the mortality of women who have become widows. In the research reported in this chapter, we examine the extent to which key psychosocial resources influence the resilience and healthy longevity of older widows.

Widowhood is a common occurrence in the lives of midlife and older women. Almost one half of women over the age of 65 years are widowed (Fields and Casper, 2001). The gerontological literature (e.g.