Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Investigating Holistic Wellness Dimensions During Older Adulthood: A Factor Analytic Study

  • Published:
Journal of Adult Development Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine what dimensions of holistic wellness emerged in a sample of older adults (N = 229) using the Perceived Wellness Survey, and if these dimensions resembled developmental theories of aging. Results from an exploratory principal-axis factor analysis revealed a four-factor solution of holistic wellness: Existential Success, Existential Despair, Physical Wellness, and Future Physical Wellness. Discussion pertaining to how these factor solutions corroborate with the developmental literature is provided, as well as suggestions for further research and humanistic counseling strategies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adams, T., Bezner, J., Drabbs, M., Zambarano, R., & Steinhardt, M. (2000). Conceptualization and measurement of the spiritual and psychological dimensions of wellness in a college population. Journal of American College Health, 48(4), 165–173.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Adams, T., Bezner, J., Garner, L., & Woodruff, S. (1998). Construction validation of the perceived wellness survey. American Journal of Health Studies, 14, 212–219.

    Google Scholar 

  • Adams, T., Bezner, J., & Steinhardt, M. (1997). The conceptualization and measurement of perceived wellness: Integrating balance across and within dimensions. American Journal of Health Promotion, 11, 208–218.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Administration on Aging. (2014). Aging statistics. Retrieved from http://www.aoa.acl.gov/Aging_Statistics/index.aspx

  • Archer, J., Probert, B. S., & Gage, L. (1987). College students’ attitudes toward wellness. Journal of College Student Personnel, 28, 311–317.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ardell, D. B. (1988). Planning for wellness: A commitment to personal excellence (3rd ed.). Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernardo Gonçalves Marques, E. M., Serdio Sánchez, C., & Palacios Vicario, B. (2014). Perception of the quality of life of a group of older people. Revista De Enfermagem Referência, 4(1), 73–81. doi:10.12707/RIII1314.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bezner, J. R., Adams, T. B., & Whistler, L. S. (1999). The relationship between physical activity and indicators of perceived wellness. American Journal of Health Studies, 15, 130–138.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blando, J. (2011). Counseling older adults. New York, NY: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bookman, A., Harrington, M., Pass, L., & Reisner, E. (2007). Family caregiver handbook. Cambridge, MA: Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyd, D. G., & Bee, H. L. (2012). Lifespan development. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cavanaugh, J. C., & Whitbourne, S. K. (Eds.). (1999). Gerontology: An interdisciplinary perspective. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunn, H. L. (1961). High level wellness. Arlington, VA: R.W. Beatly.

    Google Scholar 

  • Erikson, E. H. (1980). Identity and the life cycle. New York: Norton (originally published.

    Google Scholar 

  • Erikson, E. H., Erikson, J. M., & Kivnick, H. Q. (1986). Vital involvement in old age. New York: Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flood, M. (2002). Successful aging: A concept analysis. Journal of Theory Construction and Testing, 6(2), 105–108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foster, T. (2010). Encouraging student wellness: An expanded role for counselor educators. The Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision, 2, 10–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foster, T., & Kreider, V. (2009). Reinventing gerocounseling in counselor preparation as a specialization. Educational Gerontology, 35, 177–187. doi:10.1080/03601270802466850.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foster, T., & Levitov, J. (2012). Wellness during midlife and older adulthood: A different perception. ADULTSPAN, 11(2), 66–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fowler, F. J. (2013). Survey research methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gliner, J. A., Morgan, G. A., & Leech, N. L. (2009). Research methods in applied settings. New York, NY: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2010). Multivariate data analysis. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harari, M. J., Waehler, C. A., & Rogers, J. R. (2005). An empirical investigation of a theoretically based measure of perceived wellness. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52, 93–103. doi:10.1037/0022-0167.52.1.93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hattie, J., Myers, J. E., & Sweeney, T. J. (2004). A factor structure of wellness: Theory, assessment, analysis, and practice. Journal of Counseling and Development, 82, 354–364.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kane, R. L., & Kane, R. A. (Eds.). (2000). Assessing older persons: Measures, meaning, and practical applications. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knight, B. G. (2004). Psychotherapy with older adults. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Maples, M. F., & Abney, P. C. (2006). Baby boomers mature and gerontological counseling comes of age. Journal of Counseling and Development, 84, 3–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moody, H. R., & Sasser, J. R. (2011). Aging: Concepts and controversies. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Munro, B. H. (Ed.). (2005). Statistical methods for health care research. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

    Google Scholar 

  • Myers, J. E. (1992). Wellness, prevention, development: The cornerstone of the profession. Journal of Counseling and Development, 71, 136–139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Myers, J. E., & Sweeney, T. J. (Eds.). (2005). Counseling for wellness. Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Myers, J. E., & Sweeney, T. J. (2008). Wellness counseling: The evidence base for practice. Journal of Counseling and Development, 86, 482–493.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Myers, J. E., Sweeney, T. J., & Witmer, J. M. (2000). The wheel of wellness counseling for wellness: A holistic model for treatment planning. Journal of Counseling and Development, 78, 251–266.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Institute of Health. (2013). Senior health. Retrieved from http://nihseniorhealth.gov/depression/aboutdepression/01.html

  • National Institute of Mental Health. (2012). What is prevalence? Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/prevalence/index.shtml

  • Preacher, K. J., & MacCallum, R. C. (2002). Exploratory factor analysis in behavior genetics research: Factor recovery with small sample sizes. Behavior Genetics, 32(2), 153–161.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roger, P. R., & Stone, G. (2014). What is the difference between a clinical psychologist and a counseling psychologist? Retrieved from http://www.div17.org/about/what-is-counseling-psychology/counseling-vs-clinical/

  • Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (2013). Using multivariate statistics (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Troutman, M., Nies, M. A., Small, S., & Bates, A. (2011). The development and testing of an instrument to measure successful aging. Research in Gerontological Nursing, 4(3), 221–232. doi:10.3928/19404921-20110106-02.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Turner, N. E. (1998). The effect of common variance and structure pattern on random data eigenvalues: Implications for the accuracy of parallel analysis. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 58, 541–568. doi:10.1177/0013164498058004001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Census Bureau. (2011). Age and sex composition: 2010. Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-03.pdf

  • Witmer, J. M., & Granello, P. F. (2005). Wellness in counselor education. In J. E. Myers & T. J. Sweeney (Eds.), Counseling for wellness (pp. 261–271). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Counseling, Loyola University New Orleans, 6363 St. Charles Ave., Box 66, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA

    Thomas Foster, Caitlyn Galjour & Stephanie Spengel

Authors
  1. Thomas Foster
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Caitlyn Galjour
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Stephanie Spengel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thomas Foster.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Foster, T., Galjour, C. & Spengel, S. Investigating Holistic Wellness Dimensions During Older Adulthood: A Factor Analytic Study. J Adult Dev 22, 239–247 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10804-015-9215-4

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10804-015-9215-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation