Health Resources and Well-Being in Optimal Aging: The Mediating Role of Selection, Optimization, and Compensation Strategies

Abstract

Aging and health issues continue to receive attention, especially under the global health challenge of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. It is important to understand how people adapt their lifespan development to face the gains and losses of resources. The purpose of this study was to test the relationships between health resources, selection, optimization, and compensation (SOC) strategies and well-being with aging; to examine the impact of SOC strategies on health resources and well-being, and the link between health resources and well-being. Using structural equation modeling to analyze our hypotheses, a sample survey of 372 adults was conducted. The results showed that health resources were positively and significantly related to SOC and well-being. SOC strategies were positively and significantly related to well-being and SOC strategies partially mediated the link between health resources and well-being. The findings contribute to the literature by establishing a model and providing practical implications for individual behavior, as well as better understanding of the theoretical and practical implications of aging and health. A friendly community and organization may help people’s well-being in terms of physiology, psychology, society, and environment.