Introduction
Retirement is a challenging and unavoidable step in the working life of people, which is associated with adverse consequences for their mental health and well-being. Social well-being is one of the dimensions of well-being that can be affected by retirement. The aim of this study was to investigate the mediating role of psychological capital in the relationship between the meaning of life and social well-being in middle-aged retirees.
Materials and Methods
The present study was descriptive and correlational. The statistical population of this study consisted of all middle-aged retirees who are members of the Education Retirees Association and the Khorasan Razavi Social Security Retired Workers Association. A sample of 382 people was selected from the study population. Research data were collected using questionnaires of social well-being, meaning of life and psychological capital. SPSS and Lisrel software were used to analyze and obtain descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and path analysis.
Results
The findings of the study indicated that the meaning of life directly affects social well-being. Also, the meaning of life indirectly by mediating hope and optimism affects the social well-being of retired middle-aged people.
Conclusion
According to the findings of the study, the meaning of life, hope, and optimism as positive psychological strengths playing role in increasing the social well-being of retired middle-aged people. Results of the study help to identify the factors which play role in increasing social well-being and the results can be useful in increasing the social well-being of this group of people.