All 6 components of psychological well-being were significantly and positively associated with cognition cross-sectionally, with personal growth and sense of purpose being most strongly associated, and sense of purpose, personal growth, environmental mastery, and self-acceptance predicting better cognitive function at 9-year follow-up.
Key Findings
Results
All 6 components of psychological well-being were significantly and positively associated with cognitive function in cross-sectional analyses.
Cross-sectional standardized beta coefficients ranged from β = 0.07 to 0.19 across all six components
The six components assessed were: sense of purpose, personal growth, environmental mastery, self-acceptance, autonomy, and positive relations with others
Sample included 3,742 participants from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study (MAge = 56.04, SD = 12.26)
Cognitive function was assessed using the Brief Test of Adult Cognition
Multiple regression analyses were used for cross-sectional associations
Results
Personal growth and sense of purpose were the most strongly associated components of psychological well-being with cognitive function cross-sectionally.
Cross-sectional beta coefficients ranged from β = 0.07 to 0.19, with personal growth and sense of purpose at the higher end
Participants completed the Ryff Psychological Well-being Scales (1989)
These two components showed the strongest associations among the six components assessed
Results
Higher levels of sense of purpose, personal growth, environmental mastery, and self-acceptance were associated with better cognitive function at 9-year follow-up after controlling for baseline cognitive function.
Prospective standardized beta coefficients ranged from β = 0.03 to 0.05 for the significant components
Analyses controlled for baseline cognitive function
The follow-up period was approximately 9 years
Autonomy and positive relations with others were not significantly associated with cognitive function prospectively
No significant differences in the strength of associations across psychological well-being components emerged prospectively
Results
No significant differences in the strength of prospective associations were found across the psychological well-being components that predicted cognitive function.
Four components (sense of purpose, personal growth, environmental mastery, and self-acceptance) each showed prospective betas of β = 0.03–0.05
Despite differences in cross-sectional effect sizes, prospective associations were statistically comparable in magnitude
This suggests that multiple well-being components may be similarly relevant for long-term cognitive outcomes
Discussion
The study extends prior research by demonstrating that components of psychological well-being beyond sense of purpose, especially personal growth, are associated with cognitive function.
Prior research had consistently associated sense of purpose with higher cognitive function and less cognitive decline, but less was known about the other 5 components
Findings suggest that personal growth, environmental mastery, and self-acceptance should also be assessed as possible protective factors
Authors recommend these well-being components be considered as protective factors for cognitive function across the lifespan
The study used a large, midlife adult sample (N = 3,742) with a longitudinal design spanning approximately 9 years
What This Means
This research suggests that multiple aspects of psychological well-being — not just having a sense of purpose in life — are linked to better cognitive function (such as memory and thinking skills). Using data from nearly 3,750 middle-aged and older adults followed over about nine years, the researchers found that all six components of psychological well-being they measured (sense of purpose, personal growth, environmental mastery, self-acceptance, autonomy, and positive relationships) were associated with better cognition at the time of the initial assessment. Personal growth and sense of purpose showed the strongest cross-sectional links.
Looking ahead to cognitive performance nine years later, four of the six components — sense of purpose, personal growth, environmental mastery, and self-acceptance — were associated with better cognitive function even after accounting for how well participants were already thinking at the start of the study. This suggests these well-being factors may have a modest protective relationship with cognitive aging over time, though the long-term effects were small and similar in size to each other.
This research matters because most prior work focused only on sense of purpose when studying the connection between well-being and brain health. This study suggests that other aspects of well-being, particularly a sense of personal growth and feeling in control of one's environment, may also be worth attention as potential protective factors against cognitive decline. These findings could inform future research into whether interventions targeting multiple dimensions of well-being might support cognitive health as people age.
Britton K, Pfund G, Willroth E. (2026). Do all components of psychological well-being predict cognitive function?. The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbag071