Abstract
A prior short-term longitudinal study showed that three-dimensional wisdom and subjective health were reciprocally related, but it is not clear what explains this association. An analysis of cross-sectional data of 108 older adults from the US and Canada (age range 62–99 years, M=77.19, SD=8.95) confirmed that wisdom and subjective health were correlated (r=.30, p=.002). Structural equation models revealed that a sense of mastery mediated the association between wisdom and subjective health, although it is likely that the relations between the variables were reciprocal. Wisdom might strengthen feelings of mastery, which might have a beneficial impact on health behaviors and, therefore, improve subjective health. Conversely, ill health might reduce a sense of mastery among older adults, which might adversely affect wisdom. Hence, mediated by mastery, wisdom might increase health, whereas illness might reduce the cognitive, reflective, and compassionate qualities of three-dimensional wisdom.