Existential Well-Being in old age - the Influence of Existential Analysis on the Paradox of Well-Being

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the project was to reveal the relation between the existential and psychological models of well-being and to examine its influence on the paradox of well-being. Method: The Existential Quality of Life Questionnaire (Görtz) measuring existential well-being on the basis of the Existential Fundamental Motivations (Längle), the Psychological Well-Being-Scales (Ryff) capturing psychological well-being, the Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diener et al.) eliciting subjective life satisfaction and the European Quality of Life Questionnaire (EuroQualgroup)measuring health status, were given to 65 elderly people. Findings: Existential well-being was highly correlated with psychological well-being and life satisfaction. When taking existential well-being into account, the correlation between health ratings and satisfaction with life disappears. Discussion: The high correlation of existential well-being with other forms of well-being displays its convergent validity and highlights its central role in surveying well-being. Furthermore, existential well-being might be seen as a factor of resilience protecting a person’s life satisfaction in spite of low self-reported health status.