The role of depression, hope, and perceived social support in predicting psychological well-being in retired individuals

This study examines the role of depression, hope, and perceived social support in predicting psychological well-being among retired individuals. Utilizing a quantitative research design, the study sample consisted of 388 retired participants aged between 50 and 85, representing diverse genders, educational backgrounds, marital statuses, and retirement types. Data were collected using the Demographic Information Form, the Psychological Well-Being Scale, the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form (GDS-15), the Dispositional Hope Scale, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Data analyses involved descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression techniques. The findings revealed that depression was the strongest negative predictor of psychological well-being, while hope and perceived social support emerged as significant positive predictors. According to multiple regression analysis, these three variables together explained 61.1% of the total variance in psychological well-being scores. While depression was identified as the most powerful negative predictor, hope and perceived social support positively and significantly predicted psychological well-being. In terms of demographic variables, psychological well-being scores did not differ significantly by gender, age, marital status, educational level, or post retirement employment status. However, significant differences were observed based on perceived income level and engagement in a meaningful activity. The results of this research were discussed in the context of the existing literature, providing a scientific foundation for future studies and offering various recommendations for practitioners working in the field.