The Relationship Between Reminiscence Styles and Psychological Well-Being in Older Adults: The Mediating Role of Social Capital

Abstract
Background: With the growth of the older adult population, psychological well-being (PWB) has gained increasing importance as a key indicator of mental health and quality of life in this age group. On the other hand, reminiscence, as a common process in later life, may influence PWB by strengthening meaning, self-coherence, and social bonds. Despite existing evidence on the association between reminiscence styles (RSs) and PWB, the explanatory mechanisms underlying this relationship have received less attention. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the relationship between RSs and PWB in older adults and the mediating role of social capital in this relationship.
Method: This study was correlational and employed path analysis. The statistical population included adults aged over 60 years living in districts of Hamadan, Iran, from whom 200 participants were selected using convenience sampling. The instruments included Onyx and Bullen’s Social Capital Questionnaire, Amani et al.’s Elderly RS Questionnaire, and Ryff’s PWB Scale. Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation and path analysis in SPSS-21 and LISREL-9.1.
Results: The results showed that narrative-transmissive and integrative RSs had positive and significant relationships with social capital and PWB, whereas the obsessive RS showed negative and significant relationships with social capital and PWB. Social capital also had a positive and significant relationship with PWB. The final model demonstrated an acceptable fit. The Sobel test showed that the indirect relationships of narrative-transmissive, obsessive, and death-preparation RSs with PWB through social capital were significant, whereas the integrative RS was directly associated with PWB without mediation.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that social capital may serve as an important mechanism linking some RSs to PWB in older adults. In particular, positive RSs may enhance PWB by strengthening social bonds and supportive resources, whereas negative RSs may contribute to lower PWB by weakening social capital. Accordingly, strengthening adaptive RSs alongside community-based programs aimed at increasing social capital may serve as an intervention-oriented approach to promoting mental health among Iranian older adults.
EXTENDED ABSTRACT
 Introduction
Psychological well-being is one of the key indicators of mental health in older adults and encompasses life satisfaction, self-acceptance, positive relationships with others, purpose in life, personal growth, and environmental mastery. With the increasing population of older adults, greater attention has been directed toward factors influencing their psychological well-being. During this stage of life, individuals may experience reduced social roles, limited social networks, changes in physical health, and feelings of loneliness, all of which can negatively affect their psychological well-being. In this context, reminiscence, as a common process in later life, plays a significant role in shaping psychological well-being. By reviewing and reconstructing past experiences, older adults assign meaning to their lives and redefine their identities. However, reminiscence is not a uniform phenomenon, and its various styles may lead to different mental health outcomes. Adaptive styles, such as integrative and narrative-transmissive reminiscence, are associated with meaning-making, coherence, transmission of experiences, and strengthened social bonds, thereby enhancing psychological well-being. In contrast, maladaptive styles, such as obsessive reminiscence or death preparation, may involve negative mental preoccupation, reduced social engagement, and diminished psychological well-being. The impact of reminiscence on psychological well-being is not solely determined by individual characteristics but is also influenced by social factors. Social capital, defined as the resources embedded in social relationships, trust, participation, and social support, may play a crucial role in this relationship. Older adults with higher social capital have greater opportunities for interaction, sharing memories, receiving support, and maintaining social roles, which can contribute to improved psychological well-being. Accordingly, the present study aimed to examine the relationship between reminiscence styles and psychological well-being in older adults and to investigate the mediating role of social capital in this relationship.
Method
This study employed a correlational design using path analysis. The statistical population consisted of adults aged over 60 years residing in districts of Hamadan, Iran. A sample of 200 older adults was selected through convenience sampling. Inclusion criteria included being over 60 years of age, willingness to participate, no experience of bereavement within the past six months, and absence of severe mental illness based on medical records. The research instruments included the Onyx and Bullen Social Capital Questionnaire, Amani et al.’s Elderly Reminiscence Questionnaire, and Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being Scale. The Elderly Reminiscence Questionnaire assesses five styles: narrative-transmissive, obsessive, integrative, death preparation, and escapist reminiscence. After obtaining the necessary permissions, the questionnaires were administered online with the assistance of psychology students from Bu-Ali Sina University. Participants were informed about the study’s purpose and provided informed consent. Confidentiality of responses was assured, and guidance was offered when necessary. After data collection, incomplete or invalid responses were excluded, and multivariate outliers were identified and removed. Ultimately, data from 185 participants were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients and path analysis in SPSS version 21 and LISREL version 9.1.
Results
Correlation analyses indicated that integrative and narrative-transmissive reminiscence styles were positively associated with both social capital and psychological well-being, whereas obsessive reminiscence showed negative associations with these variables. Social capital was also positively related to psychological well-being. In the path analysis, the initial model was refined by removing non-significant paths, including escapist reminiscence. In the final model, narrative-transmissive reminiscence showed a positive relationship with social capital, while obsessive reminiscence and death preparation demonstrated negative relationships with social capital. Social capital, in turn, had a positive relationship with psychological well-being. Additionally, integrative reminiscence had a direct positive effect on psychological well-being, whereas obsessive reminiscence and death preparation had negative effects. Indirect effect analysis revealed that narrative-transmissive reminiscence positively influenced psychological well-being through increased social capital. Conversely, obsessive reminiscence and death preparation negatively affected psychological well-being through reduced social capital. These findings highlight the significant mediating role of social capital in the relationship between certain reminiscence styles and psychological well-being. The final model demonstrated acceptable fit indices.
Conclusion
The findings indicate that the relationship between reminiscence styles and psychological well-being in older adults is complex and varies depending on the type of reminiscence and its pathways of influence. Integrative reminiscence was directly associated with higher psychological well-being, suggesting that constructing a coherent and meaningful life narrative enhances self-acceptance, integrity, and psychological satisfaction. In contrast, obsessive reminiscence and death preparation were linked to lower psychological well-being, likely due to increased focus on negative memories, perceived failures, and reduced engagement with present life. Narrative-transmissive reminiscence appears to operate primarily through social mechanisms. By sharing memories and experiences, older adults maintain a sense of value, belonging, and intergenerational connection. Thus, social capital serves as a key mechanism linking certain reminiscence styles to psychological well-being. Promoting adaptive reminiscence styles, particularly integrative and narrative-transmissive forms, alongside enhancing opportunities for social interaction and support, may improve mental health outcomes in older adults. Conversely, attention should be given to maladaptive reminiscence styles, such as obsessive reminiscence, as they may undermine psychological well-being through reduced social capital and increased negative mental focus.
 Ethical Consideration
Ethical Code
This study was conducted after obtaining the necessary permissions from the relevant authorities at Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamadan.
Funding
This study received no external funding.
Financial Support
This study did not receive financial support.
Authors’ Contributions

A.: Conceptualization, methodology, data management, writing–review and editing, project administration, supervision; K. H. H.: statistical analysis, data collection, writing–original draft; R. H. H.: statistical analysis, data collection, writing–original draft.

Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this article.
Acknowledgments
The authors express their gratitude to all older adults who participated in this study.
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