The mediating and moderating roles of self-acceptance and self-reported health in the relationship between self-worth and subjective well-being among elderly Chinese rural empty-nester

Abstract

Abstract This study aims to test the moderation and mediation effects of self-acceptance and self-reported health on self-worth s impact on subjective well-being among elderly Chinese rural empty-nester elderly, and confirm whether self-report health is a moderating variable between self-worth and subjective well-being. This cross-sectional study was performed from May 2017 to April 2018; the participants were 365 empty-nest elderly adults from rural areas of Chifeng City in Inner Mongolia. Data were collected with the General information questionnaire, Self-worth questionnaire for adults, Self-acceptance Questionnaire, and Memorial University of New Found land Scale of Happiness. For the analyses, correlations, regressions, and structural equation models were used. Bootstrapping was performed to confirm the mediation effect. Multiple regression analysis was performed to confirm the moderation effect. Self-worth showed significant correlations with self-acceptance and subjective well-being (all P < .01). Bootstrapping indicated that the mediating role of self-acceptance was statistically significant. And self-reported health moderated the self-worth and subjective well-being association. Self-acceptance partially mediated the relationship between self-worth and subjective well-being of the rural empty-nest elderly and self-reported health moderated self-worth and subjective well-being association. Consequently, to improve the subjective well-being of the rural empty-nest elderly, self-acceptance and personal health should be the focus.