title: A longitudinal investigation of the factor structure of subjective well-being: the case of the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale.
abstract: The purpose of this research was twofold: (a) to replicate the hierarchical factor structure of well-being with rural data; and (b) to investigate the longitudinal invariance of this factor structure. Subjective well-being was hypothesized to have a hierarchical factor structure with a second order factor, well-being, explaining variance in first order dimensions labeled agitation, lonely dissatisfaction, and attitude toward one's aging. The latent constructs were measured by items composing the PGC Scale (Lawton, 1975). Maximum likelihood confirmatory factor analysis techniques were used to test the fit of the model. Subjective well-being was investigated using a panel of older rural adults surviving a ten-year, two-wave investigation. Results of the study provided support for the hierarchical factor structure of well-being in cross-sectional analyses. This factor structure was varied across time, however.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Studies, College of Human Environmental Sciences, University of Kentucky.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: McCulloch
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D001290:Attitude; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D008132:Loneliness; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D009013:Morale; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation; D012424:Rural Population; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support