The mediating role of meaning in life in the relationship between empty nest syndrome and hopelessness with psychological well-being of elderly women

Sajjadian, Parinazsadat; Sharifi, Samira

doi:10.22059/japr.2025.362387.644697

The mediating role of meaning in life in the relationship between empty nest syndrome and hopelessness with psychological well-being of elderly women

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

parinazsadat sajjadian ¹

samira sharifi ²

¹ Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran

² general psychology, Isfahan(Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.

10.22059/japr.2025.362387.644697

Abstract

This research was conducted with the aim of investigating the mediating role of the meaning of life in the relationship between the empty nest syndrome and despair with the psychological well-being of elderly women. The current research was descriptive-correlation based on structural equation modeling. Thestatistical population of the research includes all the elderly admitted to nursing homes andnursinghomes in Isfahan city in 1401, and 200 elderly women were selected using the available samplingmethod. The measurement tools were: Russell's empty nest syndrome questionnaires, the meaning of life bySteger, Fraser, Oishi and Keller, hopelessness and psychological well-being Reif and DAS depression anxiety.The results showed that the structural model has a good fit. Also, between empty nest syndrome with psychological well-being , despair with well-being , empty nest syndrome with the meaning of life.Disappointment was significant with the meaning of life, well-being with the meaning of life. Also, meaning in life mediates the relationship between empty nest syndrome and psychological well-being, but it does notmediate the relationship between hopelessness and psychological well-being. Based on this, in elderly care centers, it is necessary to pay attention to these factors in order to increase the level of psychologicalwell-being and improve the health of the elderly

Keywords

The mediating role of meaning in life

empty nest syndrome

hopelessness

psychological well-being

elderly women