TY - JOUR
T1 - Age-Related Differences in Psychological Flexibility
T2 - A Cross-Sectional Study in a Dutch Population Sample
AU - Slot, Magdalena
AU - Reijnders, Jennifer
AU - Janssens, Mayke
AU - Simons, Marianne
AU - Lataster, Johan
AU - Jacobs, Nele
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors want to thank Veronique Tijhuis, Anne Lynn Bijl, Carla van Boven, Nienke Dijk, Thijs Huijs, Thea Jansman, Amina Amari, Carina van Berlo, Esther Frinking, Yolanda van Dijk and Annemarie Simonis-Bik for collecting the data. The authors also wish to thank all participants for their contribution to this research.
Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024.
PY - 2025/3/1
Y1 - 2025/3/1
N2 - Psychological flexibility provides the ability to react upon and adapt to challenges across the lifespan, including thoughts, feelings or events, in a way that is consistent with personal values, thereby enhancing or sustaining wellbeing. The aim of this study is to improve our understanding of age-graded differences in psychological flexibility, by examining the relationship between (subcomponents of) psychological flexibility and age in a Dutch general population sample (N = 1770; Mage (SD) = 55.77 (14.31); 36.3% men and 63.7% women). The results show that the relationship between age and psychological flexibility was not significant when accounting for demographical variables, positive and negative affect. However, there was a significant relationship between age and five of the six subcomponents. Demographic variables (education, marital status, employment), as well as positive and negative affect, played a significant role, underscoring the importance of incorporating affective factors in future research on psychological flexibility. Additionally, the results have implication for future research, particularly in assessing interindividual trajectories through sequential longitudinal designs, and practical implication, especially valuable in our modern society with current challenges.
AB - Psychological flexibility provides the ability to react upon and adapt to challenges across the lifespan, including thoughts, feelings or events, in a way that is consistent with personal values, thereby enhancing or sustaining wellbeing. The aim of this study is to improve our understanding of age-graded differences in psychological flexibility, by examining the relationship between (subcomponents of) psychological flexibility and age in a Dutch general population sample (N = 1770; Mage (SD) = 55.77 (14.31); 36.3% men and 63.7% women). The results show that the relationship between age and psychological flexibility was not significant when accounting for demographical variables, positive and negative affect. However, there was a significant relationship between age and five of the six subcomponents. Demographic variables (education, marital status, employment), as well as positive and negative affect, played a significant role, underscoring the importance of incorporating affective factors in future research on psychological flexibility. Additionally, the results have implication for future research, particularly in assessing interindividual trajectories through sequential longitudinal designs, and practical implication, especially valuable in our modern society with current challenges.
KW - Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
KW - Aging
KW - Lifespan
KW - Psychological Flexibility
U2 - 10.1007/s41042-024-00194-x
DO - 10.1007/s41042-024-00194-x
M3 - Article
SN - 2364-5040
VL - 10
JO - International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology
JF - International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology
IS - 1
M1 - 9
ER -