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Subjective Well‐Being of Rural Adults 75 Years of Age or Older: A Longitudinal Evaluation
Author(s) -
Scott Jean Pearson,
Butler Mark H.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
family and consumer sciences research journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.372
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 1552-3934
pISSN - 1077-727X
DOI - 10.1177/1077727x970253001
Subject(s) - longitudinal study , psychology , subjective well being , well being , demography , gerontology , drop out , developmental psychology , social psychology , medicine , happiness , demographic economics , sociology , pathology , psychotherapist , economics
This study examined a combination offactors that influence subjective well‐beingofrural adults in late old age and compared factors influencing subjective well‐being across time. A 12‐year follow‐up study revealed a small, but highly reliable drop in morale for the sample as a whole. Personal competencyfactors, health, and perceived economic adequacy were most important to explaining morale at both Time 1 and Time 2. Social interaction emerged as relatively more important to subjective well‐being at Time 2. Individual change in morale was highlighted by identifying variables that distinguished persons who declined on morale versus those whose morale was stable or improved. Persons who remained married at Time 2 were more likely to have declined on morale. This finding was possibly due to reduced social interaction and caregiving.