Relationship between Purpose in Life and Psychological Distress among Older Adults

Abstract

The study investigates the relationship between psychological distress and purpose in life among older adults, along with gender differences in these variables. The sample consists of 80 older adults aged 65 to 79 years, selected from various parts of Kerala, primarily Palakkad, using a purposive sampling method to ensure equal representation of genders and minimize bias. The participants include 40 males and 40 females. Results reveal a significant negative correlation between purpose in life and psychological distress, indicating that higher purpose in life is associated with lower psychological distress. Furthermore, a t-test analysis shows no significant gender difference in purpose in life, suggesting similar perceptions of life purpose among male and female participants. However, a significant gender difference is observed in psychological well-being with females reporting higher levels of distress than males. These findings highlight the protective role of purpose in life against psychological distress and the need for gender-sensitive interventions to support older adults' mental well-being.