Mental health and personality structure in adult and elderly women

Abstract

Background: Most research supports that mental health deteriorates in later life while personality structure remains persistent throughout life. Various studies have shown that the capacity for joy, the ability to cope with stressors, the maintenance of healthy relationships with others, and the sense of accomplishment can decline as individuals grow older. However, thinking patterns, feelings towards certain things, and ways of reacting to particular situations remain constant. Methods: This study aims to examine mental health and personality structure in adult and elderly women. The hypothesis posits that there would be a significant difference in the scores of mental health and personality dimensions between elderly and adult women subjects. The study was conducted on a sample of 72 subjects, consisting of 36 adult women and 36 elderly women. They were assessed using the Mental Health Inventory and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. Results: The t-test results suggested that adult and elderly women differ significantly in mental health, but no difference was found in personality structure. Conclusion: These findings emphasize that there is a disparity in the mental health of adult and elderly women, but a resemblance in their personality structures.

Keywords: Mental health, personality, adult, elderly