Muiswinkel, Elise (E.N.) van (2022) Meaning in Life: A Demographic Analysis of Meaning in Life among Older Adults in the Netherlands. Master thesis.
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Abstract
This study looked at the perception of meaning in life among older adults (65-plus) with different demographic characteristics and resources in the Netherlands, and at the association with social contacts, general health, religion, and volunteer work. The study used quantitative data collected by Statistics Netherlands with the Social Cohesion and Well-being Survey in 2020. The purpose was to add research on meaning in life in association with social capital, using theories on both concepts such as the Socioemotional Selectivity Theory. The results show that the majority of older adults in the Netherlands experiences a meaningful life. Considering life worth living and having a feeling of contribution are two different aspects of meaning in life. (Very) good perceived general health and having at least once a week contact with friends are positively associated with both aspects. Age, marital status and income are relatively more important for considering life worth living. Being 75-plus and having a higher income are positively associated, while being divorced or widowed are negatively associated. On the contrary, aspects that older adults can influence themselves, such as being a volunteer and considering religion important are relatively more important for the feeling of contribution. Recommendations for future research are to compare the results with a year with less corona measures and with other countries, and to take a larger sample size to allow for separate analyses for 75-plus.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
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| Degree programme: | Population Studies |
| Supervisor: | Mulder, C.H. |
| Date Deposited: | 20 Jul 2022 07:14 |
| Last Modified: | 20 Jul 2022 07:14 |
| URI: | https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3841 |
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