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New research from Swansea University reveals how personal values, social ties, and the body’s ability to regulate stress shape mental wellbeing and psychological distress as people grow older.
Drawing on data from over 8,000 UK Biobank participants, with an average age of 65, the study highlights practical, evidence-based insights to support mental health in later life.
Led by Dr Darren J. Edwards, PhD student Tom C. Gordon, and Professor Andrew Kemp, the research found:
- Doing what matters most (meaning-oriented behaviour) was the strongest predictor of higher wellbeing and lower ill-being, partly because it fosters social connection and resilience.
- Heart-rate variability, a marker of how well the body adapts to stress, was consistently associated with higher subjective wellbeing.
- Lifetime adversity showed the strongest direct association with ill-being.
These findings highlight that mental health is not only about reducing risks, but also about cultivating resources that help people thrive.
The study also reveals how different factors interact in complex ways:
- Ill-being and wellbeing are not simply opposite ends of a spectrum.
- Increases in heart-rate variability produced progressively larger improvements in wellbeing.
- Initial lifetime adversity has a disproportionately large negative effect on mental health.
The team used advanced methods like Bayesian and structural equation modelling to uncover these hidden patterns. The analysis was cross-sectional, meaning it identified associations rather than proving cause and effect. Nevertheless, the results point to promising directions for future intervention studies.
Dr Darren J. Edwards, Associate Professor in Public Health and co-author, said: “Our research reinforces the value of process-based approaches, helping people align behaviour with personal values, connect with others, and manage stress more effectively.”
Tom C. Gordon, PhD student and lead author, added: “Support may work best when it fits the individual. Helping people do more of what matters, build relationships, and regulate stress is more promising than relying on any single tactic.”
Professor Andrew Kemp, Research Lead for the School of Psychology and co-author, said: “With ageing populations and rising mental health needs, these findings point to the potential of approaches that build meaning, connection, and resilience, alongside traditional approaches that involve managing symptoms.”
With ageing populations and rising mental health needs, these findings offer timely guidance for healthcare providers, policymakers, and community organisations.