What matters, and what matters most, for change in life satisfaction in the oldest-old? A study over 6 years among individuals 80+

Anne Ingeborg Berg, Lesa Hoffman, Linda Bjork Hassing, Gerald E. McClearn, Boo Johansson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

69 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives: The study investigates whether markers of life satisfaction identified in a cross-sectional study-quality of social network, self-rated health, depressive symptoms, locus of control and widowhood, in addition to financial satisfaction and the personality traits of extraversion and neuroticism-predict change in life satisfaction (LSI-Z) across four measurement occasions during a 6-year period in individuals aged 80+. Method: Data were drawn from the Swedish OCTO-Twin-study of individuals aged 80 and older. Results: Growth curve analysis showed a relatively consistent significant linear decline in life satisfaction, but certain markers predicted change in life satisfaction. The loss of spouse, in particular in men, and higher levels of depressive symptoms were related to lower levels of life satisfaction over time. Conclusion: The results from the study question the notion of a life-long stability of life satisfaction.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)191-201
Number of pages11
JournalAging and Mental Health
Volume13
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Depressive symptoms
  • Life satisfaction
  • Longitudinal
  • Oldest-old
  • Widowhood

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Phychiatric Mental Health
  • Gerontology
  • Geriatrics and Gerontology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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