Adult children's support and self-esteem as mediators in the relationship between attachment and subjective well-being in older adults

Abstract

The present study aimed at exploring the roles of adult children's support and self-esteem in the relationship between attachment and subjective well-being in older adults. The Experiences in Close Relationship Scale (ECR), Parents-Adult Children Social Support Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem (RSE) and Memorial University of Newfoundland Scale of Happiness (MUNSH) were administered to 319 older adults from different communities. Results from structural equation modeling revealed that adult children's support partially mediated the association between attachment anxiety and subjective well-being, while the association between attachment avoidance and subjective well-being was fully mediated by adult children's support and self-esteem. These findings provide insights into the effect of attachment on the subjective well-being of the elderly.