Self-Transcendence and Mental Health in Oldest-Old Adults
Nursing Research January 1, 1991 DOI: 10.1097/00006199-199101000-00002 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractOlder adults aged 80 to 97 reported four patterns of self-transcendence important to their emotional well-being: Generativity, Introjectivity, Temporal Integration, and Body-Transcendence. A relationship between self-transcendence and mental health, consistent with prior research, was supported by correlation and matrix analyses, indicating that expanding self boundaries is important for emotional well-being in the oldest-old.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Qualitative and quantitative study using methodological triangulation Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 55 |
| Population | Independent-living older adults aged 80 to 97 |
| Citations | 327 |
| Key finding | Four patterns of self-transcendence were identified as important to emotional well-being, and a relationship between self-transcendence and mental health was supported. |
Abstract
Patterns of self-transcendence that older adults report as being important to their emotional well-being are described in this study, and the relationship between self-transcendence and mental health symptomatology in oldest-old adults is investigated. The sample consisted of 55 independent-living older adults, 80 to 97 years old. Methodological trianglulation was used whereby qualitative data together with quantitative findings were examined. Four patterns of self-transcendence, congruent with the investigator's definition, were identified by the participants as being important to their sense of well-being: Generativity, Introjectivity, Temporal Integration, and Body-Transcendence. Results of Pearson correlation analysis and matrix analysis of data supported a relationship between self-transcendence and mental health found in previous research, thus demonstrating the importance of the expansion of self boundaries in older adults.