Openness Important for Older Adults’ Life Satisfaction

By Richard Shank

Researchers recognize the importance of being able to adapt to one’s circumstances for subjective well-being. A study that included 235 retired adults between ages 58 and 85 took this notion a step further; analysis revealed that being open to new experiences added a small improvement to one’s life satisfaction, whereas being open to new ideas had a much stronger positive association with life satisfaction.

Open individuals are able to adapt more quickly to changing life circumstances and are better able to make adjustments in attitude and behavior once they are exposed to new information and needs. It’s recommended that professionals who work with older adults provide support that fosters realistic and productive assessments of the older adult’s current social and physical abilities. Furthermore, fostering an outlook of openness to experience, change, and new ideas will help older adults adapt to circumstances they face with aging.

Source: Stephen, Y. 2009. Openness to experience and active older adults’ life satisfaction: A trait and facet-level analysis. Personality and Individual Differences 47:637-641.

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