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Relationship Between Mental Health and the Education Level in Elderly People: Mediation of Leisure Attitude

2020; Frontiers Media; Volume: 11; Linguagem: Inglês

10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00573

1664-1078

Pedro Belo, Esperanza Navarro‐Pardo, Ricardo Pocinho, Pedro Carrana, Cristóvão Margarido,

Health disparities and outcomes

The present study intends to explore the influence of education on the mental health of retired people and the mediating role of a leisure attitude in this relationship.The sample was simple random, and a confidentiality agreement was established. The sample was composed of 403 Portuguese participants (37.2% male; 62.8% female). The participants completed the MHI and the LAS.The hypothesized mediation model showed that a leisure attitude mediated the association between education and well-being. In addition, higher levels of distress were found in participants with higher levels of education.Our results suggest that old-aged people with high education and a more positive leisure attitude have a better psychological adjustment concerning well-being. Also, a higher level of education can lead to a better perception of aging changes (physical, life, profession).