Abstract
ABSTRACTObjectives: Interventions based on self-management of well-being (SMW) theory have shown positive effects, but additional questions remain: (1) Are improvements in well-being, as induced by the interventions, mediated by improved self-management ability (SMA)? (2) Do the interventions show ceiling effects? (3) Is a particular format of SMW intervention (individual, group, or self-help) more effective?Method: Data of three randomized controlled trials were pooled. The greater part of the sample (N = 445) consisted of single older females. A bootstrap analysis was performed to test for mediation. Regression analyses with interaction effects were performed to test for ceiling effects. Controlled and transformed effect sizes (proportion of maximum change) were calculated to compare formats.Results: There was a full significant mediation of well-being by SMA. A significant interaction (ceiling) effect was found on well-being, but not on SMA. The controlled effect sizes of the raw scores were small to medium (.04–.49), and were small to large after transformation (.41–.73). None of the intervention formats was more effective.Conclusion: Support for SMW theory was found, i.e. increasing self-management ability lead to improved well-being. Some ceiling effect was found. We conclude that various SMW interventions formats can improve self-management abilities and well-being with medium effects.
Highlights
It is well established that aging well is a matter of having the right genes, and of the way in which individuals actively self-manage their own aging process
self-management of well-being (SMW) theory should be placed in the realm of theories on successful aging, which postulates that individuals who have better overall self-management ability will be better able to achieve, maintain, or restore physical and psychosocial well-being, and subsequently overall psychological well-being
Three randomized controlled trials, which were executed separately in the past, demonstrated that older adults who are facing some or more physical, psychological, and/or social losses can benefit from interventions based on SMW theory (Frieswijk et al, 2006; Kremers et al, 2006; Schuurmans, 2004; Steverink et al, 2005)
Summary
It is well established that aging well is a matter of having the right genes, and of the way in which individuals actively self-manage their own aging process. Many older adults do not just need to be able to cope with one specific physical or psychosocial health problem, but rather with multiple and interacting challenges (physical, psychological, and/or social) that need to be managed simultaneously. Many older people may benefit more from broad self-management interventions which focus simultaneously on the various factors which challenge the maintenance of overall well-being, rather than from interventions which focus on just one problematic aspect of physical or psychosocial health. The assumption is that the fulfillment of these physical and social needs yields overall well-being, making these five basic needs the five core domains of well-being (for an extended elaboration of these basic needs and how they compare to other basic human need approaches such as those of Deci and Ryan (2000), see Lindenberg (2013))
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