Resilience in Elders of the Sardinian Blue Zone: An Explorative Study

Background: older adults from the Sardinian Blue Zone self-report low depressive symptoms and high psychological well-being. However, the role of dispositional resilience as a determinant of these characteristics is unknown. Objectives: the current study had three aims. First, to investigate associa...

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Main Authors: Maria Chiara Fastame, Paul Kenneth Hitchcott, Ilaria Mulas, Marilena Ruiu, Maria Pietronilla Penna
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2018-02-01
Series:Behavioral Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/8/3/30
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author Maria Chiara Fastame
Paul Kenneth Hitchcott
Ilaria Mulas
Marilena Ruiu
Maria Pietronilla Penna
author_facet Maria Chiara Fastame
Paul Kenneth Hitchcott
Ilaria Mulas
Marilena Ruiu
Maria Pietronilla Penna
author_sort Maria Chiara Fastame
collection DOAJ
description Background: older adults from the Sardinian Blue Zone self-report low depressive symptoms and high psychological well-being. However, the role of dispositional resilience as a determinant of these characteristics is unknown. Objectives: the current study had three aims. First, to investigate associations among several putative predictors, including dispositional resilience and three established markers of positive and negative mental health. Second, to determine if gender differences in dispositional resilience, independent of age and cognitive impairment, are present in this population. Third, to examine the relative importance of the predictors of self-reported mental health and well-being. Methods: 160 elders were recruited in the Sardinian Blue Zone. The participants completed self-report measures of dispositional resilience, satisfaction with social ties, physical health, depressive symptoms, and psychological well-being. Results: trait resilience was significantly associated with predictors and markers of mental health. Males had significantly greater trait resilience. In regression analyses, dispositional resilience and satisfaction with social ties were significant predictors of all markers of mental health. Other factors were significantly associated only with certain markers. Conclusions: trait resilience and strong social ties appear to be key determinants of the high mental health of Sardinian Blue Zone older adults.
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spelling doaj.art-f3892eca5ea245f6894e68560c4d306e2022-12-21T19:48:11ZengMDPI AGBehavioral Sciences2076-328X2018-02-01833010.3390/bs8030030bs8030030Resilience in Elders of the Sardinian Blue Zone: An Explorative StudyMaria Chiara Fastame0Paul Kenneth Hitchcott1Ilaria Mulas2Marilena Ruiu3Maria Pietronilla Penna4Department of Pedagogy, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, Via Is Mirrionis 1, 09123 Cagliari, ItalyDepartment of Pedagogy, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, Via Is Mirrionis 1, 09123 Cagliari, ItalyDepartment of Pedagogy, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, Via Is Mirrionis 1, 09123 Cagliari, ItalyDepartment of Pedagogy, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, Via Is Mirrionis 1, 09123 Cagliari, ItalyDepartment of Pedagogy, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, Via Is Mirrionis 1, 09123 Cagliari, ItalyBackground: older adults from the Sardinian Blue Zone self-report low depressive symptoms and high psychological well-being. However, the role of dispositional resilience as a determinant of these characteristics is unknown. Objectives: the current study had three aims. First, to investigate associations among several putative predictors, including dispositional resilience and three established markers of positive and negative mental health. Second, to determine if gender differences in dispositional resilience, independent of age and cognitive impairment, are present in this population. Third, to examine the relative importance of the predictors of self-reported mental health and well-being. Methods: 160 elders were recruited in the Sardinian Blue Zone. The participants completed self-report measures of dispositional resilience, satisfaction with social ties, physical health, depressive symptoms, and psychological well-being. Results: trait resilience was significantly associated with predictors and markers of mental health. Males had significantly greater trait resilience. In regression analyses, dispositional resilience and satisfaction with social ties were significant predictors of all markers of mental health. Other factors were significantly associated only with certain markers. Conclusions: trait resilience and strong social ties appear to be key determinants of the high mental health of Sardinian Blue Zone older adults.http://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/8/3/30agingresiliencepsychological well-beingdepressionblue zone
spellingShingle Maria Chiara Fastame
Paul Kenneth Hitchcott
Ilaria Mulas
Marilena Ruiu
Maria Pietronilla Penna
Resilience in Elders of the Sardinian Blue Zone: An Explorative Study
Behavioral Sciences
aging
resilience
psychological well-being
depression
blue zone
title Resilience in Elders of the Sardinian Blue Zone: An Explorative Study
title_full Resilience in Elders of the Sardinian Blue Zone: An Explorative Study
title_fullStr Resilience in Elders of the Sardinian Blue Zone: An Explorative Study
title_full_unstemmed Resilience in Elders of the Sardinian Blue Zone: An Explorative Study
title_short Resilience in Elders of the Sardinian Blue Zone: An Explorative Study
title_sort resilience in elders of the sardinian blue zone an explorative study
topic aging
resilience
psychological well-being
depression
blue zone
url http://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/8/3/30
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