| HOME | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|---|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RESEARCH ARTICLE |
School of Public Health and Institute of Gerontology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Address correspondence to Dr. Neal Krause, Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1420 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029. E-mail: nkrause{at}umich.edu
Objectives. The purpose of this study is to see if stressors arising in highly valued roles affect health by eroding an older person's sense of meaning in life. A second goal is to assess whether emotional support provided by social network members helps offset the deleterious effects of stress on meaning and health.
Methods. Interviews were conducted with a nationwide sample of older people. Survey items were administered to assess stressors in highly valued roles, meaning in life, and self-rated health.
Results. The findings suggest that life events arising in roles that are valued highly are associated with less favorable health ratings. Moreover, the data reveal that stressors in highly valued roles affect health primarily by eroding an older person's sense of meaning in life. Finally, the results indicate that emotional support helps older people cope more effectively with stress by restoring their sense of meaning in life.
Discussion. Researchers have devised a number of interventions to improve the health of older people by enhancing the functioning of their social networks. These interventions have met with mixed success. The findings from the current study suggest that focusing on meaning in life may help researchers devise more effective interventions.
This article has been cited by other articles:
 |
|
 |
|
  N. Krause Meaning in Life and Mortality J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci, July 1, 2009; 64B(4): 517 - 527. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 Sha Juan Colbert and N. Krause Witnessing Violence Across the Life Course, Depressive Symptoms, and Alcohol Use Among Older Persons Health Educ Behav, April 1, 2009; 36(2): 259 - 277. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 B. Mezuk and G. W. Rebok Social Integration and Social Support Among Older Adults Following Driving Cessation J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., September 1, 2008; 63(5): S298 - S303. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 N. Krause The Social Foundation of Religious Meaning in Life Research on Aging, July 1, 2008; 30(4): 395 - 427. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 V. C. Crooks, J. Lubben, D. B. Petitti, D. Little, and V. Chiu Social Network, Cognitive Function, and Dementia Incidence Among Elderly Women Am J Public Health, July 1, 2008; 98(7): 1221 - 1227. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 N. Krause Evaluating the Stress-Buffering Function of Meaning in Life Among Older People J Aging Health, October 1, 2007; 19(5): 792 - 812. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. B. Rosnick, B. J. Small, C. L. McEvoy, A. R. Borenstein, and J. A. Mortimer Negative Life Events and Cognitive Performance in a Population of Older Adults J Aging Health, August 1, 2007; 19(4): 612 - 629. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
N. Krause Self-Expression and Depressive Symptoms in Late Life Research on Aging, May 1, 2007; 29(3): 187 - 206. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S.-T. Cheng and A. C. M. Chan Filial piety and psychological well-being in well older chinese. J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., September 1, 2006; 61(5): P262 - P269. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|---|
