Exploring the SEST theory: Positive affect as mediator in the association between bonding social capital and well-being in later life

M.E. Simons; J.S.A.M. Reijnders; M. Janssens; J.J.E. Lataster; N.E. Jacobs

Abstract

Background: Bonding social capital (BoSC) was previously found as an important ingredient for positive aging and to be stronger related to mental well-being in an older population than bridging social capital (BrSC). Exploring the theoretical explanation based on the socio-emotional selectivity theory (SEST), will add to our knowledge about positive aging processes.

Aims: This study examines the assumption of the SEST, that in later life people prefer interaction with socioemotionally important others as they add to positive experiences in present time.
We have examined the hypotheses that (1) BoSC is stronger associated with well-being than BrSC in later life, and (2) this association is mediated by experiences of positive affect (PA).

Method: A sample of Dutch older adults (50+ years) filled out two online questionnaires, with an interval of four weeks, measuring BoSC and BrSC (PSCSE, Simons et al. 2019) and PA (PANAS, Watson et al.,1988) at T1 (n=319, Mage(SD)=61.28(7.65), Rangeage=50-93) and well-being (MHF-SF, Lamers et al. 2011) at T2 (n=202 Mage(SD)=61.31(7.47), Rangeage=50-93). Relevant (demographic) confounders were also measured.

Results: Regression analysis including BoSC(T1) and BrSC(T1) as predictors, as well as relevant covariates, found a significant positive association between BoSC and well-being(T2). Mediation analysis showed that this association was partly mediated by PA(T1). No association was found between BrSC and well-being(T2) or between BrSC and PA.

Conclusion: Our findings support the SEST and further illustrate the importance of bonding social capital in positive aging as a resource of opportunities to experience positive emotions, contributing to overall well-being in later life.

Original language	English
Publication status	Published - 1 Jul 2022
Event	European Conference of Positive Psychology, Reykjavik - Harpa, Reykjavic, Iceland Duration: 28 Jun 2022 → 2 Jul 2022

Conference

Conference	European Conference of Positive Psychology, Reykjavik
Country/Territory	Iceland
City	Reykjavic
Period	28/06/22 → 2/07/22

Keywords

bonding social capital
wellbeing
positive aging
socioemotional selectivity theory
positive affect

Cite this

@conference{684243fce02848dcae272414d735dec6,

title = "Exploring the SEST theory: Positive affect as mediator in the association between bonding social capital and well-being in later life",

abstract = "Background: Bonding social capital (BoSC) was previously found as an important ingredient for positive aging and to be stronger related to mental well-being in an older population than bridging social capital (BrSC). Exploring the theoretical explanation based on the socio-emotional selectivity theory (SEST), will add to our knowledge about positive aging processes.Aims: This study examines the assumption of the SEST, that in later life people prefer interaction with socioemotionally important others as they add to positive experiences in present time.We have examined the hypotheses that (1) BoSC is stronger associated with well-being than BrSC in later life, and (2) this association is mediated by experiences of positive affect (PA). Method: A sample of Dutch older adults (50+ years) filled out two online questionnaires, with an interval of four weeks, measuring BoSC and BrSC (PSCSE, Simons et al. 2019) and PA (PANAS, Watson et al.,1988) at T1 (n=319, Mage(SD)=61.28(7.65), Rangeage=50-93) and well-being (MHF-SF, Lamers et al. 2011) at T2 (n=202 Mage(SD)=61.31(7.47), Rangeage=50-93). Relevant (demographic) confounders were also measured. Results: Regression analysis including BoSC(T1) and BrSC(T1) as predictors, as well as relevant covariates, found a significant positive association between BoSC and well-being(T2). Mediation analysis showed that this association was partly mediated by PA(T1). No association was found between BrSC and well-being(T2) or between BrSC and PA. Conclusion: Our findings support the SEST and further illustrate the importance of bonding social capital in positive aging as a resource of opportunities to experience positive emotions, contributing to overall well-being in later life.",

keywords = "bonding social capital, wellbeing, positive aging, socioemotional selectivity theory, positive affect",

author = "M.E. Simons and J.S.A.M. Reijnders and M. Janssens and J.J.E. Lataster and N.E. Jacobs",

year = "2022",

month = jul,

day = "1",

language = "English",

note = "European Conference of Positive Psychology, Reykjavik ; Conference date: 28-06-2022 Through 02-07-2022",

}

TY - CONF

T1 - Exploring the SEST theory

T2 - European Conference of Positive Psychology, Reykjavik

AU - Simons, M.E.

AU - Reijnders, J.S.A.M.

AU - Janssens, M.

AU - Lataster, J.J.E.

AU - Jacobs, N.E.

PY - 2022/7/1

Y1 - 2022/7/1

N2 - Background: Bonding social capital (BoSC) was previously found as an important ingredient for positive aging and to be stronger related to mental well-being in an older population than bridging social capital (BrSC). Exploring the theoretical explanation based on the socio-emotional selectivity theory (SEST), will add to our knowledge about positive aging processes.Aims: This study examines the assumption of the SEST, that in later life people prefer interaction with socioemotionally important others as they add to positive experiences in present time.We have examined the hypotheses that (1) BoSC is stronger associated with well-being than BrSC in later life, and (2) this association is mediated by experiences of positive affect (PA). Method: A sample of Dutch older adults (50+ years) filled out two online questionnaires, with an interval of four weeks, measuring BoSC and BrSC (PSCSE, Simons et al. 2019) and PA (PANAS, Watson et al.,1988) at T1 (n=319, Mage(SD)=61.28(7.65), Rangeage=50-93) and well-being (MHF-SF, Lamers et al. 2011) at T2 (n=202 Mage(SD)=61.31(7.47), Rangeage=50-93). Relevant (demographic) confounders were also measured. Results: Regression analysis including BoSC(T1) and BrSC(T1) as predictors, as well as relevant covariates, found a significant positive association between BoSC and well-being(T2). Mediation analysis showed that this association was partly mediated by PA(T1). No association was found between BrSC and well-being(T2) or between BrSC and PA. Conclusion: Our findings support the SEST and further illustrate the importance of bonding social capital in positive aging as a resource of opportunities to experience positive emotions, contributing to overall well-being in later life.

AB - Background: Bonding social capital (BoSC) was previously found as an important ingredient for positive aging and to be stronger related to mental well-being in an older population than bridging social capital (BrSC). Exploring the theoretical explanation based on the socio-emotional selectivity theory (SEST), will add to our knowledge about positive aging processes.Aims: This study examines the assumption of the SEST, that in later life people prefer interaction with socioemotionally important others as they add to positive experiences in present time.We have examined the hypotheses that (1) BoSC is stronger associated with well-being than BrSC in later life, and (2) this association is mediated by experiences of positive affect (PA). Method: A sample of Dutch older adults (50+ years) filled out two online questionnaires, with an interval of four weeks, measuring BoSC and BrSC (PSCSE, Simons et al. 2019) and PA (PANAS, Watson et al.,1988) at T1 (n=319, Mage(SD)=61.28(7.65), Rangeage=50-93) and well-being (MHF-SF, Lamers et al. 2011) at T2 (n=202 Mage(SD)=61.31(7.47), Rangeage=50-93). Relevant (demographic) confounders were also measured. Results: Regression analysis including BoSC(T1) and BrSC(T1) as predictors, as well as relevant covariates, found a significant positive association between BoSC and well-being(T2). Mediation analysis showed that this association was partly mediated by PA(T1). No association was found between BrSC and well-being(T2) or between BrSC and PA. Conclusion: Our findings support the SEST and further illustrate the importance of bonding social capital in positive aging as a resource of opportunities to experience positive emotions, contributing to overall well-being in later life.

KW - bonding social capital

KW - wellbeing

KW - positive aging

KW - socioemotional selectivity theory

KW - positive affect

UR - https://www.eventure-online.com/eventure/login.form?U257005d8-1bd3-4956-871a-98c62ddbc707

M3 - Abstract

Y2 - 28 June 2022 through 2 July 2022

ER -

Exploring the SEST theory: Positive affect as mediator in the association between bonding social capital and well-being in later life

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Positive affect as mediator: The socioemotional selectivity theory applied to the association between bonding social capital and wellbeing in later life

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Exploring the SEST theory: Positive affect as mediator in the association between bonding social capital and well-being in later life

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Positive affect as mediator: The socioemotional selectivity theory applied to the association between bonding social capital and wellbeing in later life

Cite this