Perceived Vulnerability and Well-Being in Older Adults

Abstract

A new measure of perceived vulnerability in older adults was developed. The effects of perceived vulnerability on well being, depression, and successful aging were examined. There were 396 (241 females and 155 males) participants aged 50 to 90 years at Time 1, and, of these, 236 remained in a follow-up study three years later (Time 2). The results showed The Perceived Vulnerability Scale (PVS) to be a uni-dimensional measure characterised by high internal consistency, moderate temporal stability, and good concurrent and predictive validity. Concurrent validity analyses showed higher levels of perceived vulnerability to be associated with higher scores on both trait anxiety and perceived stress. Lower levels of perceived vulnerability were associated with higher levels of sense of: coherence, positive life attitudes, and general well-being. Predictive validity analyses revealed that perceived vulnerability at Time 1 was a significant predictor of sense of coherence, positive life attitudes, general wellbeing and depression assessed at Time 2. Moderation analyses revealed that the effects of perceived vulnerability on depression and general well-being were attenuated by positive existential resources. Path analysis indicated that that positive existential resources and perceived vulnerability mediated the relationship between trait anxiety and successful aging, and also that low positive existential resources may be an important precursor to inflated feelings of vulnerability.