The Relationship Between Self-Esteem And Happiness The Elderly: A Global Perspective

Introduction: Happiness is a vital component of psychological well-being in older adults, often influenced by cognitive and emotional factors such as self-esteem. As aging populations face increased vulnerability to mental health challenges, understanding the mechanisms that promote happiness becomes crucial. Evidence suggests that higher self-esteem contributes to greater life satisfaction, resilience, and emotional balance. This review aims to explore the relationship between self-esteem and happiness in older adults across diverse populations.Methods: This review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase databases was carried out for studies published between ۲۰۱۵ and ۲۰۲۵. Keywords such as “self-esteem,” “happiness,” “subjective well-being,” and “older adults” were used. Inclusion criteria were studies thematically relevant to the topic and within the defined publication period. Exclusion criteria included irrelevant titles, studies outside the timeframe, editorials, protocols, and qualitative designs. Two independent reviewers screened titles and abstracts, resolving disagreements through consensus. Eighteen studies were selected from ۴۰ initial records. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.Results: Among the ۱۸ included studies, ۴ articles reported a significant positive correlation between self-esteem and happiness in older adults (p < ۰.۰۰۱). In ۳ articles, self-esteem predicted up to ۴۲% of the variance in happiness using regression analysis. Five studies identified self-esteem as a mediating factor between psychological traits (e.g., self-efficacy) and well-being. Three articles emphasized demographic moderators, such as education and marital status, influencing the self-esteem–happiness link. In ۲ studies, self-esteem enhancement was associated with improved emotional resilience and reduced depressive symptoms (p < ۰.۰۱). Overall, the findings consistently supported self-esteem as a core predictor of happiness in aging populations.Conclusion: This review highlights self-esteem as a central psychological determinant of happiness in older adults. Higher self-esteem consistently correlates with greater emotional well-being, resilience, and life satisfaction. Interventions targeting self-esteem enhancement may significantly improve mental health outcomes in aging populations. Future studies should further explore longitudinal effects and develop tailored programs to promote self-esteem in older individuals.

کلیدواژه ها:

elderly ، Happiness ، Psychological Well-Being ، Self Concept