Participation as a Pillar of Active Ageing: The Role of Eudaimonic Psychological and Health Factors

Abstract

Background/Objectives: With ageing population projections, promoting positive ageing trajectories is critical. While health is often emphasised, eudaimonic psychological factors remain underexamined. A qualitative study presented throughout the main text highlighted the importance of psychological factors like purpose in life and resilience in fostering participation and subjective well-being, even amidst declining health. This model bridges the most recent updates from governmental organisations—the International Longevity Center, Brazil and the World Health Organization. Building on this model, the current research seeks to empirically assess the impact of health and eudaimonic psychological factors on the frequency and satisfaction of participation among older adults. Methods: This study involved 289 participants (56.74% women) aged 65+ in Madrid. Data on participation, self-perceived health, and eudaimonic factors were collected through an online survey. Hierarchical regression and cluster analyses explored the predictors and profiles of participation. Results: Resilience, positive relationships, and autonomy explained 8.8% of variance in participation frequency. Satisfaction was influenced by health, meaning in life, and autonomy, accounting for 11% of variance. Profiles showed the highest participation and satisfaction in individuals with high eudaimonic scores, despite moderate health. Conclusions: Eudaimonic factors significantly influence participation and mitigate health limitations, reinforcing the qualitative study model mentioned. By uniting updates from governmental organisations proposals, this model underscores the role of psychological well-being in active ageing. Future research should explore hedonic well-being as a key outcome of active ageing.

Keywords

• active ageing
• older adults
• participation
• eudaimonic well-being
• health