Personality and Subjective Well-Being among Elder Adults: Examining the Mediating Role of Cycling Specialization

Abstract

Evidence suggests that personality and subjective well-being (SWB) are related to leisure activity engagement among elder adults. However, evidence of the role of cycling specialization (CS) in the relationship between personality and SWB is lacking. A structural model was proposed to examine the relationship among personality, CS, and SWB. A sample of elder adults (n = 286) was randomly recruited from among cycling participants in China. The structural equation modeling results revealed that personality had a significant positive effect on CS. Personality and CS were positively associated with SWB. Personality had a positive, indirect effect on SWB through CS, cognition and affect. Furthermore, behavior did not significantly mediate the relationship between personality and SWB. These results offered insight into the relationship between personality and SWB among elder adults, especially considering the variable of CS. The limitations and implications of the findings are discussed.

Keywords:

• cycling specialization
• elder adults
• mediating role
• personality
• subjective well-being

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by National Social Science Funding in China (grant number 16BTY077).