title: The construct validity of life satisfaction among the elderly.
abstract: A construct validation study of life satisfaction was completed with a modified random area probability sample of 325 older persons (M = 73.0, SD = 8.2) residing in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Internal consistency reliability estimates for the Life Satisfaction Index Form Z and both subscales of the Affect Balance Scale were consistent with previous reports. Within self-ascribed handicapped and nonhandicapped groups, six life satisfaction measures generally correlated more highly with each other than with an alcohol use measure, suggesting adequate convergent-discriminant validity. Finally, the handicapped group had lower life satisfaction than the nonhandicapped group, and stepdown F tests indicated some redundancy among the life satisfaction measures.
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction