Character strengths, their valuing and their association with well-being in middle and older age (An exploratory research study)

Abstract

Positive psychology provides a framework for studying the determinants of successful aging. This study investigated how character strengths in middle and older age may relate to subjective and physical wellbeing. Additionally, subjective importance of different character strengths in both age groups was investigated. Two hundred seventeen persons (50% female) aged 46–94 participated. Results revealed that gratitude and appreciation of beauty were given significantly more value in older age than in middle age. Hope and zest belong to the five strengths with the highest positive correlation with cognitive and affective aspects of subjective wellbeing in both age groups, whereas hope belongs to the five strengths with the highest positive correlation with physical wellbeing over the age ranges. However, some differences in strengths and their relation to subjective and physical wellbeing were uncovered. As predicted, positive associations between spirituality and life satisfaction were found in older, but not in middle age. Practical implications for practitioners are outlined, as regards the consideration of strengths in successful aging as well as the application of strength-based interventions for promoting subjective and physical wellbeing in middle and older age.