The Relationships Among Joy of Life, Social Support, and Life Satisfaction in Individuals Aged 55 and Older: The Mediating Role of Psychological Well‐Being
Hakan Oğuz Ari, Zöhre Yazar PoyrazABSTRACT
Aim
This study aims to examine the multidimensional nature of well‐being in old age by investigating the structural interrelations among joy of life, psychological well‐being, and life satisfaction in individuals aged 55 and over.
Method
Designed within a relational survey model, the research was conducted with 389 participants (207 males, 182 females) selected through convenience sampling (59.9% face‐to‐face interviews, 40.1% online surveys). Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, the Joy of Life in Old Age Scale, the Psychological Well‐Being Scale, and the Life Satisfaction Scale. Construct validity was evaluated using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), confirming acceptable model fit across scales. The structural relationships were examined using covariate‐adjusted multiple linear regression and controlled Bootstrap mediation models (5000 resamples, 95% CI).
Results
After statistically controlling for sociodemographic covariates, psychological well‐being remained the single strongest direct predictor of life satisfaction ( β = 0.395, p < 0.001). In sociodemographic analyses, a paradoxical finding revealed that individuals with chronic illnesses and lower education levels reported higher joy of life scores. Controlled mediation analyses confirmed that psychological well‐being plays a robust partial mediating role in the relationship between external support dimensions (social and institutional support) and life satisfaction.
Conclusion
These results demonstrate that external support provided to the surveyed older adults is indirectly associated with life satisfaction primarily by nourishing eudaimonic psychological well‐being (autonomy and purpose in life), independently of sociodemographic variations. This highlights the necessity of holistic social policies targeting psychological empowerment alongside resource distribution in aging populations.