MODELING THE STRUCTURAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HAPPINESS AND ATTACHMENT STYLES OF THE ELDERLY, MEDIATED BY SELF-COMPASSION

Abstract

The aim of this study was to model the structural relationship between happiness and attachment styles of the elderly, mediated by self-compassion. Due to its nature, the present research method is descriptive-correlation (structural equations). The statistical population of this study included all the elderly living in nursing homes located in the cities of Gilan province in 2010-2011 and the sampling method was available. The statistical sample of this study is 400 people who were selected from the population according to the number of research variables. Oxford Happiness Scale, Hazen and Shaver Adult Attachment Style and Self, Compassion were used to collect data. Amos software version 24 and Pearson correlation method and path analysis were used to analyze the data. Findings showed that the direct path of attachment style to self-compassion (0.39) is positive and significant. The direct path of attachment style to happiness (0.2) is positive and significant. And according to Figure 1, also, the path of self-compassion to happiness (0.19) is positive and significant. Therefore, it seems that attachment styles and childhood events in the elderly can have a significant impact on the degree of compassion for their relationship and their well-being.