Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-4hhp2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-18T09:58:30.150Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Self-Esteem and its Sources: Stability and Change in Later Life

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 November 2008

Peter G. Coleman ,
Christine Ivani-Chalian  and
Maureen Robinson
Maureen Robinson
Affiliation:
Geriatric Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton SO9 4XY.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Stability and change in self-esteem and its reported sources were investigated in a sample of older people re-interviewed 10 and 13 years after initial study. Most indicated a continuing high to medium-high level of self-esteem, and apart from an increase in mention of interest activities their pattern of illustrations also remained consistent. Variables in the initial study which predicted a maintained high level of self-esteem included number of hobbies, number of types of outings, self perceived activity level, and mention of people other than family members as sources of self-esteem. The usefulness of collecting data on expressed sources is exemplified in two case histories. Consideration is given to the implications of these findings for conceptualising identity processes in later life.

Type
Research Article
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 13 , Issue 2 , June 1993 , pp. 171 - 192
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Baltes, P. B. and Baltes, M. M. 1990. Psychological perspectives on successful aging: the model of selective optimization with compensation. In Baltes, P. B. and Baltes, M. M. (eds), Successful Aging: Perspectives from the Behavioral Sciences, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 1–34.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bromley, D. B. 1986. The Case-study Method in Psychology and Related Disciplines, Wiley, Chichester.Google Scholar
Coleman, P. G. 1984. Assessing self-esteem and its sources in elderly people. Ageing and Society, 4, 117–135.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Coleman, P. G. 1987. Dimensions of subjective well-being in the elderly: conclusions from Dutch and English studies. Comprehensive Gerontology, 1, 8–12.Google ScholarPubMed
Coleman, P. G., Ivani-Chalian, C. and Robinson, M. 1991. Maintenance of self-esteem and responses to stress in an ageing population. End of Award Report to the Economic and Social Research Council, U.K.Google Scholar
Coleman, P. G., Aubin, A., Robinson, M., Ivani-Chalian, C. and Briggs, R. 1993. Predictors of depressive symptoms and low self-esteem in a follow-up study of elderly people over 10 years. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 8, 343–349.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dittmann-Kohli, F. 1990. The construction of meaning in old age: possibilities and constraints. Ageing and Society, 10, 279–294.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Erikson, E. H., Erikson, J. M. and Kivnick, H. Q. 1986. Vital Involvement in Old Age: The Experience of Old Age in Our Time, Norton, New York.Google Scholar
Essex, M. J. and Klein, M. H. 1989. The importance of self-concept and coping responses in explaining physical health status and depression among older women. Journal of Aging and Health, 1, 327–348.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Field, D. and Millsap, R. E. 1991. Personality in advanced old age: continuity or change? Journal of Gerontology, 46, P299–P308.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hall, M. R., Briggs, R. S., MacLennan, W. J., Marcer, D., Robinson, M. J. and Everett, F. M. 1983. The effects of procaine/haematoporphyrin on age-related decline: a double-blind trial. Age and Ageing, 12, 302–308.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jerrome, D. 1990. Intimate relationships. In Bond, J. and Coleman, P. (eds), Ageing in Society: An Introduction to Social Gerontology, Sage, London, pp. 181–208.Google Scholar
Kaufman, S. R. 1986. The Ageless Self: Sources of Meaning in Late Life, University of Wisconsin Press, Madison.Google Scholar
Krause, N. 1987. Life stress, social support and self-esteem in an elderly population. Psychology and Aging, 2, 349–356.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lieberman, M. A. and Tobin, S. S. 1983. The Experience of Old Age: Stress, Coping and Survival, Basic Books, New York.Google Scholar
Lund, D. A. (ed). 1989. Older Bereaved Spouses: Research with Practical Applications, Hemphisphere, New York.Google Scholar
Maas, H. S. 1985. The development of adult development: recollections and reflections. In Munnichs, J. M. A., Mussen, P., Olbrich, E. and Coleman, P. G. (eds), Life-span and Change in a Gerontological Perspective, Academic Press, Orlando, pp. 161–175.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Markus, H. and Nurius, P. 1986. Possible selves. American Psychologist, 41, 954–969.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McAdams, D. P. 1990. Unity and purpose in human lives: the emergence of identity as a life story. In Rabin, A. I., Zucker, R. A., Emmons, R. A. and Frank, S. (eds), Studying Persons and Lives, Springer Publishing Company, New York, pp. 148–200.Google Scholar
Mertens, F. and Wimmers, M. 1987. Life-style of older people: improvement or threat to their health. Ageing and Society, 7, 329–343.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Midwinter, E. 1993. Editorial: lifelong education. Reviews in Clinical Gerontology, 3 (in press).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Munnichs, J. M. 1992. Ageing: a kind of autobiography. European Journal of Gerontology, 1, 244–250.Google Scholar
Rosow, I. 1967. Social Integration of the Aged, Free Press of Glencoe, New York.Google Scholar
Thompson, P. 1992. “I don't feel old”: subjective ageing and the search for meaning in later life. Ageing and Society, 12, 23–48.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tobin, S. S. 1991. Personhood in Advanced Old Age: Implications for Practice, Springer Publishing Company, New York.Google Scholar
Wenger, G. C. 1992. Morale in old age: a review of the evidence. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 7, 699–708.CrossRefGoogle Scholar