Psychological Flexibility Contributes to Health Outcomes of Older Adults Facing Adversity

Aging entails both strengths and vulnerabilities. However, the possible contribution of co-occurring contradictory experiences to successful aging in the face of adversity was not sufficiently examined. Hence, the present study aimed to test the association of psychological flexibility, manifested by the co-occurrence of contradictory experiences, with successful aging in the presence of perceptions of existential threats, namely, the hostile-world scenario (HWS). Data were drawn from SHARE-Israel’s national sample of 894 older adults (mean age = 67.29, SD = 10.07) interviewed in 2013. Hierarchical linear regression analyses revealed positive associations between psychological flexibility and successful aging across eight distinct indicators. Moreover, these associations were stronger in the presence of higher levels of the HWS. These findings demonstrate the adaptive function of psychological flexibility in promoting successful aging among older adults, particularly under conditions of adversity. Thus, successful aging may be fostered by dialectical mechanisms that balance vigilance to existential threats with the cultivation of positive experiences.