Katja Kokko

Meaningful work is important for life satisfaction. However, more research is needed on 1) how the meaning of work, that is, its primary purpose in one’s life, 2) vocational meanings, the multiple aspects that individuals consider to be important in varying degrees and expect work to enable, and 3) vocational fulfillments, the realization of these important, work related expectations in one’s current job, are experienced at different stages of adulthood. Additionally better understanding is required of how these three phenomena are associated with life satisfaction. First, using longitudinal data collected from the same individuals representing their Finnish age cohort (n = 310), we examined their primary meaning of work (necessity, occupation/profession, career, or vocation) at ages 36, 42, 50, and 61. Second, based on a population-based cross-sectional data representative of Finnish working adults (n = 2,354), we investigated different vocational meanings and their fulfillments (basic needs, career success, self-enhancement/competence, independence, self-realization, team-enhancement/communality, transcendence/doing good). Using covariance analyses and partial correlations, we inspected how primary meaning of work as well as vocational meanings and fulfillments were associated with life satisfaction. In the longitudinal data, we found that the primary meaning of work remained relatively stable throughout adulthood (56–66%) and that for most participants (52–61%) this meaning was occupation/profession. However, the primary meaning of work was not associated with the level of life satisfaction. In the cross-sectional data, we found that younger adults perceived both career success and self-realization as more essential vocational meanings than older adults did. Furthermore, among adults of all ages, vocational fulfillments were more strongly associated with higher life satisfaction than corresponding vocational meanings. Overall, the results provide diverse insights into how experiences related to meaningful work are associated with life satisfaction among Finns at different life stages.

Little is known about identity development and its associations with mental well-being across adulthood. This study investigated the average development of overall identity and mental well-being, and the links between them. The data were drawn from the Jyväskylä Longitudinal Study of Personality and Social Development, focusing on ages 27, 36, 42, 50, and 61 years ( n = 266–346). Overall identity was assessed using the Identity Achievement-Diffusion Scale, which was constructed based on semi-structured interviews, covering five life domains. Mental well-being was assessed using self-rated scales of psychological, social, and emotional well-being, as well as anxious and depressive feelings. The data were analyzed using latent growth curve modeling. Overall identity achievement increased nonlinearly from age 27 to 61, with the steepest growth occurring between ages 27 and 42. Life satisfaction and social well-being increased from age 36 or 42 to 61. There were no significant mean-level changes in psychological well-being or in depressive and anxious feelings. The level of overall identity achievement was associated positively with the level of psychological well-being, life satisfaction, and social well-being, and negatively with the level of anxious feelings. This study suggests that identity continues to develop positively and nonlinearly from young adulthood to the beginning of late adulthood. Higher levels of overall identity achievement are positively associated with the level of mental well-being in adults. Further longitudinal research is needed, taking into account both between-person and within-person levels of identity and mental well-being development, as well as their associations.

The benefits of preparation for aging have been reported, but knowledge of the factors behind it is scarce. We investigated the associations between the current level and the change in socioeconomic, social, health, and psychological resources with preparation for aging among 61‐year‐old Finns. The analysis included altogether 175 men and women who participated in the latest data collection of the Jyväskylä Longitudinal Study of Personality and Social Development (JYLS) in 2020–2021 and completed the brief scale domain‐specific preparation for age‐related changes. Baseline data for changes in resources were derived also from the JYLS data collection in 2009. We found several associations between life resources and preparation. The multivariate general linear models showed that the personality traits of extraversion and conscientiousness were the most significant resources for planning for aging. Longitudinally, decreased financial resources were associated with less preparation for aging. The results highlight the relevance of financial security as a prerequisite for more preparation towards later life. Moreover, even though people with certain personality traits are more prone to preparing for aging, it is important to develop ways to support all people near retirement age to orient towards their future lives.

Purpose: Physical activity (PA) is a key strategy in preventing and treating metabolic syndrome (MetS). The purpose is to investigate the associations of leisure-time PA (LTPA) trajectories across adulthood and current PA with MetS at age 61. Methods: Participants were 159 Finnish adults (52% women). LTPA frequency was assessed at ages 27, 42, 50, and 61 with a single question. Current PA at age 61 included self-reported vigorous, muscle-strengthening, commuting, and occupational PA. Cardiometabolic risk factors at age 61 included waist circumference, blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose. MetS was defined based on the Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. LTPA trajectories were conducted using k-means for longitudinal data. Results: Of the three LTPA trajectories found, consistently inactive ( N = 34) and increasingly active ( N = 58) had a higher risk of MetS compared with consistently active ( N = 67) (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 3.93 [1.55–10.01] and 2.39 [1.14–4.99], respectively). Only the difference between consistently inactive and consistently active remained statistically significant when the current PA indicators were included in the model. Considering the individual components of MetS, those who were consistently inactive and increasingly active had higher waist circumference, lower high-density lipoprotein, and higher triglyceride levels compared with consistently active. These differences did not remain statistically significant when current PA was included. Conclusions: Although consistently inactive and increasingly active individuals had higher cardiometabolic risk at age 61 compared with those who were consistently active across adulthood, current PA participation at the beginning of late adulthood attenuated these risks. These findings emphasize the importance of promoting and sustaining PA throughout life to reduce the burden of MetS in the aging population.

The study aimed to investigate whether mental well-being and generativity predict retirement preferences. Longitudinal data ( n = 201) were drawn from the Jyväskylä Longitudinal Study of Personality and Social Development (JYLS). Life satisfaction, psychological well-being, social well-being, and generativity were assessed at ages 42, 50, and 61. Preferred retirement age and willingness to continue working after retirement were assessed at age 61. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were deployed. The results showed that individuals with higher generativity at ages 42 and 61, as well as higher life satisfaction, psychological well-being, and social well-being at age 61, were more likely to prefer later retirement age (i.e., at or after the national minimum retirement age). Those with higher generativity at age 61 were more likely to be willing to continue working post-retirement. Some gender-based differences were observed. Men, but not women, with higher generativity and social well-being at age 42 were more likely to prefer post-retirement working. To conclude, generativity and mental well-being may be relevant in extending the working careers of aging employees.

Both the number of risky health behaviours and the duration of exposure to these behaviours over time may increase the risk of later adverse outcomes. This study examined cumulative associations of risky health behaviours with both positive and negative aspects of mental well-being and health. It has a uniquely long follow-up period of over 30 years, from early adulthood to the beginning of late adulthood. The data were from the Jyväskylä Longitudinal Study of Personality and Social Development. The participants represent the Finnish age cohort born in 1959. This study utilized data collected at ages 27 (1986), 36 (1995), 42 (2001), 50 (2009), and 61 (2020-2021) (n = 206-326). Risk scores indicating the current number of risky behaviours of smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, and physical inactivity and their temporal accumulation over time were calculated. The associations of risk scores with mental well-being (depressive symptoms, psychological well-being) and health (self-rated health, number of metabolic risk factors) from age 36 onwards were analyzed with linear multilevel models adjusted for gender and education. More current risky behaviours were associated with more depressive symptoms (B = 0.10, p = 0.032), lower psychological well-being (B = -0.10, p = 0.010), lower self-rated health (B = -0.45, p < 0.001), and more metabolic risk factors (B = 0.53, p = 0.013). The associations of temporal risk scores with the outcomes were even stronger (depressive symptoms: B = 0.38, p < 0.001; psychological well-being: B = -0.15, p = 0.046; self-rated health: B = -0.82, p < 0.001; metabolic risk factors: B = 1.49, p < 0.001). Among individual behaviours, the temporal risk score of alcohol consumption was negatively associated with most outcomes, while smoking was associated with poorer mental well-being and physical inactivity with poorer health. The current and temporal accumulation of multiple risky health behaviours were associated with poorer mental well-being and health. Preventing these behaviours early in adulthood and midlife is crucial to avoid their accumulation and subsequent health risks.

Tutkimuksessa selvitettiin identiteetin muotoutumista aikuisuudessa työn, parisuhteen ja vanhemmuuden alueilla. Osana Lapsesta aikuiseksi –pitkittäistutkimusta toteutettiin puolistrukturoitu identiteettihaastattelu ikävuosina 27, 36, 42 ja 50. Tutkittavien identiteettistatus (selkiintymätön, etsivä, omaksuttu tai saavutettu) määritettiin kullekin kolmelle elämänalueelle. Lisäksi selvitettiin, liittyykö identiteettistatus eri ikävaiheissa samanaikaiseen elämäntilanteeseen. Nuorilla 27-vuotiailla miehillä, joilla ei ollut kokoaikaista työtä, oli muita tyypillisemmin etsivä työidentiteetti. Saman ikäisillä naisilla vakinaisen parisuhteen puuttumiseen liittyi etsivä parisuhdeidentiteetti. 36-vuotiailla miehillä lapsettomuus liittyi etsivään tai selkiintymättömään vanhemmuusidentiteettiin. Myöhemmin yhteys elämäntilanteen ja identiteettistatuksen välillä näkyi selkiintymättömässä identiteetissä: selkiintymätön työidentiteetti oli yleisempää ilman kokoaikaista työtä olevilla miehillä 42-vuotiaana ja naisilla 50-vuotiaana, selkiintymätön parisuhdeidentiteetti ilman parisuhdetta olevilla miehillä ja naisilla 50-vuotiaana, ja selkiintymätön vanhemmuusidentiteetti lapsettomilla naisilla 42-vuotiaana. Tulokset osoittavat, että elämäntilanteet ovat yhteydessä identiteetin muotoutumiseen läpi aikuisuuden, mutta yksilöllinen vaihtelu on suurta. Myös saavutettua identiteettiä esiintyi kaikissa ikävaiheissa ja kaikissa elämäntilanteissa olevilla miehillä ja naisilla.

Background: Mental well-being (MWB) may play an important role in physical activity (PA) behavior, but the independent associations of affective MWB indicators and depressive symptoms with PA are sparsely investigated in late adulthood. We investigated the associations of positive affect, negative affect, and depressive symptoms with PA during the COVID-19 restrictions across late adulthood. Methods: Cross-sectional data came from two Finnish population-based studies. The younger cohort (N = 162, 56% women, 60–61 years) was drawn from the TRAILS study, and the older (N = 272, 60% women, 72–88 years) from the PASSWORD study. Data on PA frequency (1–7; from “not at all” to “approximately daily”) and perceived changes in PA (no change/increased/reduced) during COVID-19 restrictions were self-reported. MWB was assessed by positive and negative affect (International Positive and Negative Affect Schedule Short Form) and depressive symptoms (younger cohort: General Behavioral Inventory; older cohort: Geriatric Depression Scale). Associations between MWB and PA were analyzed using linear and multinominal logistic regression models. Results: When each MWB indicator was investigated separately, higher positive affect was associated with higher PA frequency in both cohorts and with a higher likelihood of increased PA in the younger cohort; higher negative affect was associated with a higher likelihood of reduced PA in the older cohort; higher depressive symptoms were associated with lower PA frequency in both cohorts and with a higher likelihood of reduced PA in the older cohort (p ≤ 0.009 for all), In the final models including all three MWB indicators, socioeconomic, and health-related covariates, only the association between higher positive affect and higher odds of increased PA remained significant in the younger cohort (OR = 4.28, p = 0.006). In the older cohort, only the associations of higher depressive symptoms with lower PA frequency (β=-0.097, p = 0.024) and higher odds of reduced PA (OR = 1.26, p = 0.010) remained significant. Conclusions: Positive affect was independently associated with increased PA during the COVID-19 restrictions in sixty-year-olds. Higher depressive symptoms were independently associated with lower PA frequency and a higher likelihood of reduced PA in 72-88-year-olds. Positive and negative aspects of MWB have different relations to PA among people aged 60 and 70 + when one’s daily routines are restricted. Trial registration number: ISRCTN52388040 (the PASSWORD study).