Relationships among life events and psychological well-being: More evidence for a two-factor theory of well-being

Author(s): Dunham, C. C., Gatz, M., Baker, L. A., Bengtson, V. L.

Journal/Book: J Appl Gerontol. 1997; 16: 2455 Teller Rd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Sage Publications Inc. 104-119.

Abstract: Relationships between 11 major life events and changes in psychological well-being were examined in a three-generation sample grandparents, their adult children and their young adult grandchildren. Psychological well-being was measured using the Bradburn Affect Balance Scale tife events included marriages; divorces; births of children; deaths of spouses, children, and parents; health declines; hospitalizations; improved standard of living; retirement; and retirement of one's spouse. Both positive and negative affect demonstrated similar stability over 14 years and were equally predictable from the life events. However, consistent with a two-factor conceptualization of psychological well-being, for all generations, desirable life events predicted change in positive affect whereas undesirable events predicted change in negative affect,cross-domain prediction wc; minimal. Results further indicated that whether life events an expected may be more important in predicting subsequent psychological well-being than whether they are desirable or undesirable.

Note: Article Stallings MC, Univ Colorado, Inst Behav Genet, Campus Box 447, Boulder,CO 80309 USA

Keyword(s): NEGATIVE AFFECT; DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS; SOCIAL SUPPORT; STRESS; HEALTH; INDEPENDENCE; MOOD

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