The Relationship Between Savouring Beliefs, Optimism, and Subjective Happiness in the Elderly: The Mediating Role of Life Satisfaction

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in studying the impact of positive emotions on improving the health of people in the community, especially that of the elderly. The increase of positive emotions seems to be one of suitable coping strategies to contend the effects of the changes in (physical and mental) health of the elderly. Therefore, the purpose of the current research was to evaluate the relationship of savouring beliefs and optimism with subjective happiness through the mediating role of life satisfaction. This was a descriptive study of correlational and structural equations modeling (SEM) type. The study population consisted of the elderly living in Shahrekord and Farsan in 2019-2020, among whom 200 were selected using convenience sampling method. Participants completed Lyubomirsky’s Subjective Happiness Scale, Bryant’s Savoring Beliefs Inventory, Diener’s Satisfaction with Life Scale, Scheier and Carver’s Life Orientation Test. Utilized to analyze the data was the structural equation modeling in SPSS (version 24) and AMOS (version 24) software. The results showed a positive and significant relationship between optimism, life satisfaction and savouring beliefs with happiness (P<0.001). Besides, the indirect effect of savoring beliefs and optimism on happiness through life satisfaction was approved (P<0.001). Therefore, it is suggested that counselors and psychologists working in the field of geriatrics apply measures such as savouring beliefs and optimism in their educational and clinical activities in order to increase subjective happiness of the elderly.