The purpose of this empirical study was to examine well-being in a representative sample of 420 older Methodists (66% female) drawn from the Leeds MethodistDistrict in order to identify those factors that may be seen to promote it. Fourteen percent of the sample were aged 60-65, and just over 20% belonged to each of the age groups 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, and 80 and above. Sixty percent were married and 27% widowed. Over 90% stated that they were home-owners.
The study employed both quantitative and qualitative approaches. A 241-item
questionnaire was used, comprising a number of existing instruments measuring
human well-being, psychological and personality type (using the Jungian-based
Francis Personality Type Scales and a revised version of the Eysenckian EPQR-A{R}),
psychosocial development in old age, religious coping styles, attitudes to
death, and religiosity as expressed in God image, religious attitude, religious
orientation, and religious experience. Seventeen structured interviews have also
been carried out and a single focus group meeting, involving 14 older people,
held.
The complex construct of well-being is examined in relation to its physical,
psychological and spiritual components, and in terms of life satisfaction,
happiness and life purpose. As a consequence purpose in life (PIL),
instrumentalised through the Purpose in Life Scale, was chosen as the primary
dependent variable.
An individual differences approach is adopted in relation to the independent
variables with which correlations have been sought. The main findings were as
follows. Consistent with other studies, PIL is shown to be lower in women and in
older subjects. It is higher in extraverts and lower in those who are more neurotic.
Importantly, gerotranscendence increases with age in the sample and correlates
positively with PIL. In relation to religious coping styles, both the deferring and
collaborative styles, but not the self-directing style, are positively correlated with
PIL, as is the approach-oriented attitude to death. A multiple regression model
shows that, amongst the religiosity measures, only intrinsic religion and the
spiritual scale of the Spiritual Transcendence Index positively correlate with PIL.
Implications are drawn for the Methodist Church and other denominations. These include the importance of encouraging intrinsic religion and prayerfulness in older members, whilst recognising that extrinsic religion can provide a bridge into churches for older people, and that the substantial minority of those with a quest orientation also need to be heard and supported. Further areas of research
pertaining to well-being in older people are identified.