Autocompaixão, bem-estar subjetivo e estado de saúde na idade avançada

Liliana Filipa Parente; Marina Isabel Cunha; Ana Galhardo; Margarida Couto

doi:10.31211/rpics.2018.4.1.57

Authors

Liliana Filipa Parente Instituto Superior Miguel Torga, Coimbra, Portugal http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8129-436X
Marina Isabel Cunha Instituto Superior Miguel Torga; Centro de Investigação do Núcleo de Estudos e Intervenção Cognitivo-Comportamental, Coimbra, Portugal http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5957-1903
Ana Galhardo Instituto Superior Miguel Torga; Centro de Investigação do Núcleo de Estudos e Intervenção Cognitivo-Comportamental, Coimbra, Portugal http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3484-6683
Margarida Couto Instituto Superior Miguel Torga, Coimbra, Portugal http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8473-181X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31211/rpics.2018.4.1.57

Keywords:

Satisfaction with life, Physical health, Mental health, Subjective well-being, Self-compassion

Abstract

Introduction: The growth in the aging population is a society major advance but also entails many challenges, imposing the need for actions promoting successful aging, with higher subjective well-being and better health. Objectives: To analyse how self-compassion, satisfaction with life, affect, physical and mental health are associated in advanced age, controlling for the effect of sex, age, schooling, place of residence and type of participants’ social response. Additionally, this study sought out to explore the variables that better predict satisfaction with life and health in the elderly. Method: The sample included 155 individuals, aged between 65 and 94 years old, from Coimbra and Leiria districts. Participants completed a set of instruments in an interview format. Results: Age, schooling and place of residence were significantly correlated in the expected direction with physical and mental health, as well as positive affect. Participants’ type of social response was associated with almost all variables. In general, the elderly living at their own home had higher satisfaction with life, better physical and mental health, more compassionate traits, and more positive affect, when compared to those attending a social response. Significant associations in the expected direction were also found between self-compassion, subjective well-being, and health. Greater life satisfaction and younger age were the best predictors of physical health; mental health was best predicted by increased satisfaction with life, self-compassion, and decreased negative affect; and, finally, life satisfaction was predicted by better physical health and by self-compassion. Conclusions: Results suggest the relevance of developing psychological competencies allowing the elderly to deal with the suffering resulting from difficult/painful moments that may characterize advanced age in more warmth, tolerant, and accepting way. Thus, compassion-focused therapies may be beneficial for this specific population aiming for the promotion of satisfaction with life and mental health.

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Author Biographies

Liliana Filipa Parente, Instituto Superior Miguel Torga, Coimbra, Portugal

Clinical Psychologist

Marina Isabel Cunha, Instituto Superior Miguel Torga; Centro de Investigação do Núcleo de Estudos e Intervenção Cognitivo-Comportamental, Coimbra, Portugal

Assistant Professor, Clinical Psychologist, Researcher

Ana Galhardo, Instituto Superior Miguel Torga; Centro de Investigação do Núcleo de Estudos e Intervenção Cognitivo-Comportamental, Coimbra, Portugal

Assistant Professor, Clinical Psychologist, Researcher

Margarida Couto, Instituto Superior Miguel Torga, Coimbra, Portugal

Assistant Professor, Clinical Psychologist

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