Ryff Psychological Wellbeing in Adulthood 1995
Ryff Psychological Wellbeing in Adulthood 1995
Ryff Psychological Wellbeing in Adulthood 1995
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CURRENTDIRECTIONS INPSYCHOLOGICALSCIENCE 99
? 1995 American
Copyright Psychological Society 99
100 VOLUME 4, NUMBER 4, AUGUST 1995
Characteristics of Characteristics of
Dimension a low scorer
a high scorer
Feels dissatisfied with is
self; disappointed
Self-acceptance Possesses positive attitude toward self; in is
acknowledges and accepts multiple aspects of self, with what has occurred past life;
including good and bad qualities; feels positive troubled about certain personal qualities;
about past wishes to be different than what he or
life she is
Positive relations with Has satisfying, trusting relationships with
warm, Has few close, trusting relationships with
other others; is concerned about the welfare of others; finds it difficult to be warm, open,
people
others; is of strong empathy, affection,
capable and concerned about others; is isolated
and
intimacy;
understands give-and-take of and frustrated in interpersonal
human relationships relationships; is not willing to make
compromises to sustain important ties with
others
Autonomy Is
self-determining and independent; is able to Is concerned about the expectations and
to think and act in certain evaluations of relies on of
resist social pressures others; judgments
ways; regulates behavior from
within; evaluates others to make
important decisions; conforms to
personal standards
self by social pressures to think and
Environmental mastery Hassense of and competence in act in certain ways
mastery
managing the environment; controls complex
Has
difficulty managing everyday affairs; feels
of external
array makes effective use
activities;
unable to change or improve
of surrounding opportunities; is able to choose
or create contexts suitable to personal needs surrounding context; is unaware of
and values surrounding opportunities; lacks sense of
control over external world
Has in life and a sense of
feels few goals
in life goals directedness; Lacks sense of meaning in life; has
Purpose is to
there meaning present and past life; holds or aims, lacks sense of direction; does not
that life see in has
beliefs give purpose; has aims and purpose past life; no outlooks or
objectives for living sees beliefs that give life
meaning
Personal growth Has
feeling of continued development; self Has sense of personal stagnation; lacks sense
as
growing and expanding; is open to new of improvement or expansion over
time;
experiences; has sense of realizing his or her feels bored and uninterested with life;
feels
potential; sees improvement in self and unable to
develop new attitudes or
behavior over time; is changing in
ways that behaviors
reflect more self-knowledge and effectiveness
I_ _I
differences. Whatever the explana no longer idealize continued self
These findings are particularly
tion, older adults' recurring lower development or purposeful living. relevant in
light of prior mental
self-ratings on purpose in life and Sex Differences health research, which has repeat
personal growth warrant
attention. edly documented a higher incidence
to im As in the case of age differences,
These patterns point possibly of certain psychological prob
portant psychological challenges of lems, such as depression, among
later life, and may support related the theoretical starting points offered women.7 When the positive end of
arguments that contemporary social few insights regarding possible dif the mental health spectrum is con
structures lag behind the added ferences between men and women sidered, however, it seems that
years of life many people now en on various dimensions of well women have greater psychological
joy.6 That is, opportunities for con being. Across multiple sets of data, strengths than men in certain aspects
tinued growth and development and however, we have found that of
well-being, and comparable pro
for experience may be women of all ages consistently rate files with regard to other dimen
meaningful
limited for older persons today. An themselves higher on positive rela sions. To miss these findings is to tell
alternative hypothesis is that older tions with others than do men, and an incomplete story about the psy
persons place less value on personal that women tend to score higher chological functioning of women.
growth and purpose in life than do than men on personal growth. The Cultural Differences
younger age groups. However, we remaining four of
aspects psycholog
have had respondents rate their ide ical well-being have consistently How culture bears on fundamen
als of well-being, and these data shown no significant differences be
challenge the notion that the aged tween men and women. tal conceptions of self, self-in
? 1995 American
Copyright Psychological Society
102 VOLUME 4, NUMBER 4, AUGUST 1995
13
12
UNDERSTANDING
Young Midlife Older VARIATIONS INWELL-BEING
Dimensions of
Weil-Being
"O Relations ? Personal Growth & Purpose in Life^Env. Mastery O Autonomy Many nationally representative
Positive
surveys have employed broad socio
such as
in
2. Self-ratings on the six dimensions of (see Fig. 1) for young, middle demographic factors,
Fig. well-being
aged, and olderadults. The top graph shows scoresfrom the original sample. Scores are come, education, age, and marital
and
based on a 20-item scale ranging from 20 to 120. The bottom graph shows scores from parental status, to explain vari
a national sample. Scores are based on a 3-item scale ranging from 3 to 18. Only results ations in well-being. In
subjective
showing significant are combination, these broad factors
age differences graphed.
rarely account for even 10% of the
relation-to-others, and health is an autonomy, might have greater sa variance in reports of happiness or
increasingly prevalent theme in so lience in our own Western cultural life satisfaction. From our perspec
whereas others-oriented di tive, understanding a who does and
cial scientific inquiry.8 Much of this context,
discussion involves contrasts be mensions of such as does not possess high profile of
well-being, pos
tween cultures that value individual itive relations with others, might be well-being requires closer examina
ism and independence and those of greater significance in in tion of the actual substance of
Eastern, peo
that value collectivism and interde terdependent cultures. These issues ple's lives, that is, their life
experi
pendence. These ideas suggest that were examined in a midlife sample ences.
more self-oriented aspects of well of U.S. adults and a sociodemo In a series of we have in
studies,
being, such as self-acceptance or graphically comparable sample of vestigated life and indi
experiences,
Published Press
by Cambridge University
CURRENTDIRECTIONS INPSYCHOLOGICALSCIENCE 103
viduals' interpretations of these ex- I sonal growth, positive relations with good provides thus another telling
periences, as key influences on others, autonomy, depression, and characterization of the human con
psychological well-being.10 The ex anxiety. An important finding is that dition, one notably missing in scien
periences range from having and older women are in poor phys
who tific discourse on mental health.
raising children, to ical health but compare themselves
Acknowledgments?I am indebted to a
growing up with
an alcoholic parent, to experiencing favorably with other women have
psychological well-being compara rich and valuable array of collaborators. It
educational and occupational
is our collective efforts that constitute the
achievements in to having ble to that of women in phys
midlife, good program of research reported here. Spe
health problems and relocation ex ical health. cial thanks are extended to Essex,Marilyn
periences in later life. These experi Ongoing longitudinal studies, of Sue Heidrich, Corey Keyes, Young Hyun
Lee, Pamela Schmutte, Marsha Seltzer,
ences vary by their location in the differing patterns of educational and and Sandra Tweed for their many valu
life occupational achievements in mid
course, by the nature of the chal able contributions. I also acknowledge
or task and by their typ life (via the Wisconsin Longitudinal the support and stimulation provided by
lenge posed, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur
icality (Is the experience shared by Study), and of the experience of Research Network on Successful Midlife
many or few? Is it or unex community relocation in later life, Development (Gilbert Brim, Director).
expected a
will contribute new findings that The work is further supported by grant
pected?). from the National Institute on Aging
Our formulation of how experi clarify the directional relationships (1R01AG08979).
ences are interpreted draws exten between life their inter
experiences, Notes
sively on social psychological the pretation, and psychological well
ory. For example, we are interested being.
in how people make sense of their WELL-BEING: A
1. For see CD. Ryff, Beyond Ponce de
life by comparing them reviews,
experiences
selves with others (social compari Leon and life satisfaction: New directions inquest of
son processes), by evaluating the successful aging, International Journal of Behavioral
SCIENTIFICLUXURY? Development, 12, 35-55 (1989);
CD.
Ryff and M.J.
feedback they perceive from signifi Essex, Psychological well-being in adulthood and
To be well psychologically is old
markers and explanatory pro
cant others (reflected appraisals), by age: Descriptive
cesses, in Annual Review of Gerontology and Geri
trying to understand the causes of atrics,
Vol.
11, K.W. Schaie and M.P. Lawton, Eds.
New York, 1992).
their experiences (attributional pro more than to be free of distress or (Springer,
2. N.M. Bradburn, The Structure of Psycholog
cesses), and by attaching relative im other mental problems. It is to pos ical (Aldine, 1969); E. Diener,
Well-Being Chicago,
portance to such experiences (psy sess positive self-regard,mastery, Subjective well-being, Psychological Bulletin, 95,
542-575 (1984); M.P. Lawton, The varieties of
chological centrality). Specific autonomy, positive relationships wellbeing, in Emotion in Adult Development, CZ.
Eds.
hypotheses regarding the influence with other people, a sense of pur Malatesta and CE.
F.
Izard,
M.
(Sage, Beverly Hills,
CA, 1984); Argyle, and N. Schwarz,
of these interpretive processes on posefulness and Strack,
meaning in life, and Eds., Subjective Well-Being: An Interdisciplinary
well-being are detailed in our indi feelings of continued growth and de Perspective (Pergamon, New York, 1991).
3. Bradburn, note 2; D. Norton, Personal Des tinies (Princeton
vidual studies. velopment. Scientific study of these University Press, Princeton, NJ,
Collectively, these studies dem 1976); A.S. Waterman, The Psychology of Individ
aspects of human Wellness may be ualism (Praeger,
New York, 1984); A.S. Waterman,
onstrate that life and Two conceptions of happiness: Contrasts of per
experiences seen as fanciful frosting on the cake,
sonal expressiveness (Eudaimonia) and hedonic en
how they are interpreted provide a luxury agenda likely to be about joyment, Journal
of
Personality and Social Psychol
678-691 (1993).
useful avenues for understanding elite samples of privileged lives. Par ogy, 64,
in cial 4. L.C Becker, Good lives: Prolegomena, So
human variations well-being. The adoxically, one of the most impor Philosophy and Policy, 9, 15-37 (1992); J.S.
research on midlife parenting tant reasons to the
study end positive
Mill, Autobiography (London, Penguin Books,
1973); L.W. Sumner, Two theories of the
good, So
shows, for example, that consider of the mental health spectrum is to cial Philosophy and Policy, 9, 1-14 (1992); B. Rus
able variance (20%-29%) in adults' identify what is in sell, The Conquest of Happiness (Bantam Books,
missing people's New York,
environmental mastery, purpose in 1968) (Original work published 1930).
lives. That is, in between people 5. CD. Ryff, Happiness is
everything, or is it?
life, ^elf-acceptance, and who are suffering from major psy Explorations
on the
meaning of psychological well
depression
being, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology,in
is accounted for by parents' percep chological disorders (the category 57, 1069-1081 CD.
(1989); Ryff, Possible selves
tions of how their grown children receiving the greatest research atten adulthood and old age: A tale of shifting horizons,
CD.
have "turned out" and how these Psychology and Aging, 6, 286-295 (1991);
tion) and those who possess psycho Keyes, The structure of psycholog
Ryff and C.L.M.
children compare with the parents logical well-being is ical
perhaps a sig well-being revisited, Journal of Personality and
In later the Social Psychology (in
themselves. life, physical nificant and neglected category of press).
M.W. Riley and J. Riley, Longevity and social structure: The
6.
health problems of aging women, people: individuals who are not potential of the added years, inOur
Paradox and A.
combined with their assessments of Aging Society: Promise, Pifer and L.
troubled by psychological dysfunc
Bonte, Eds. (W.W. Norton, New York, 1986).
how they compare with other older tion, but who, nonetheless, lack 7. B.R. Strickland, Women and depression,
of the positive
in
women, explain substantial varia many psychological Current Directions Psychological Science, 1,
132-135 (1992).
tion (16%-27%) of reports of per goods in life. The absence of the
the self: Implications for cognition, emotion, and consin, Madison(1995). rience and well-being: The
sample case of reloca
T.S.
motivation, Psychological Review, 98, 224-253 10. R.M. Hauser, W.H. Sewell, J.A. Logan, tion, Psychology and Aging, 7, 507-517 (1992);
H.C A. and M.M. Y.H.
(1991); Triandis, The self and social behavior Hauser, CD. Ryff, Caspi, MacDonald, CD. Ryff, Lee, M.J. Essex, and P.S. Schmutte,
in cultural Psychological Review, The Wisconsin Longitudinal Adults as My children and me: Mid-life evaluations of grown
differing contexts, Study: parents
96, 506-520 (1989); R.A. Shweder and M.A. Sulli and children at age 50, ?ASSISTQuarterly, 16,
23 children and of self,
Psychology
and
Aging, 9, 195
van, Cultural psychology: Who needs it?Annual Re 38 (1992); S.M. Heidrich and CD. Ryff, The role of 205 (1994); S. Tweed and CD. Ryff, Adult children
in the
view of Psychology, 44, 497-523 (1993). social comparisons processes psychological of alcoholics: Profiles of Wellness and distress, Jour
Y.H.
9. CD. Ryff, Lee, and K.C Na, Through adaptation of elderly adults, of
Journal Gerontology, nal of Studies on Alcohol, 52, 133-141 (1991).
the lens of culture: Psychological well-being at 48, P127-P136 (1993); and note
Ryff Essex, 1;CD.
normal are greatly influ this sound has a particular noise information. The perceiver naturally
hearing
enced by the visible speech in face quality that differs from that of the III combines the auditory and visual
to-face communication. Our re cues sentences into something meaning
in shin. Contextual from the
search is aimed at understanding word and sentence can also be im ful because the auditory and visual
Dominic W. Massaro is Professor portant. For example, if the Isl seg inputs are both reasonably consis
is a tent with the sentence.
ment in legislature replaced by meaningful
musical tone, a listener may still per Although this example involves
of and Michael M. Co
Psychology ceive the word as intact. Even less of the interpretation of a sentence, the
hen is Research Associate in the the word is for research we present addresses more
Department of Psychology, Uni necessary recognition
when it is spoken in a sentence, directly the perception of a single
versity of California, Santa Cruz.
such as "The governor gave an ad speech segment without meaning.
Address correspondence to Domi
nic W. Massaro, of dress to the state_." Our research is carried out in the
Department
In face-to-face communication, framework of a fuzzy logical model
Psychology, University of Califor
nia, Santa Cruz, CA 95064; there are also cues important
avail of perception (FLMP).2 The central
e-mail: able from the face, lips, and tongue assumption of this approach is that
[email protected]; is
URL: of the speaker. Of course, hearing perceiving speech fundamentally
WWW http://mambo.ucsc. a pattern recognition problem.
edu/psl/dwm.html. impaired persons benefit greatly
Published Press
by Cambridge University