title: The influence of qualitative assessments of the social and physical environment on the morale of the rural elderly.
abstract: This study examined the impact of qualitative assessments of the social and physical environment on the morale of a community sample of 231 rural elderly. It was hypothesized that qualitative assessments would make a significant contribution to morale after the application of controls for background influences and activity participation. Providing support for the hypothesis, the set of six qualitative assessment variables explained 14% of the total variance in life satisfaction, the criterion of morale, when entered at the final stage of the analysis. Additionally, multiple regression analysis revealed that significant individual contributions to life satisfaction were made by availability of a confidant, transportation need, shopping enjoyment, neighbor satisfaction, and community satisfaction, from the qualitative assessment set.
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D001290:Attitude; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009013:Morale; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012424:Rural Population; D012931:Social Environment