PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH AND PROBLEM-SOLVING SELF-APPRAISAL IN OLDER ADULTS

This study investigated relations between psychological health and pro blem-solving self-appraisal in 97 adults aged 65-96 years. Participant s completed the Problem-Solving inventory (P. P. Heppner, 1988) and tw o measures of psychological health encompassing both well-being and di stress dimensions. Results of a canonical correlation analysis indicat ed that relations between problem-solving self-appraisal and psycholog ical health were complex and sometimes contradictory. On the one hand, as problem-solving self-appraisal became more favorable (more confide nce, more control, and increased approaching of problems), well-being increased and distress decreased. Conversely, perceptions of avoidant problem solving and decreased control were also associated with some i ncreases in psychological health. Research and counseling implications are discussed.