A comparison of life satisfaction and mood in nursing home residents and community-dwelling elders.
This study compared life satisfaction and mood in a sample of 138 cognitively intact and ambulatory elders, including 70 who lived in nursing homes and 68 who lived independently in the community. Community-dwelling elders reported greater life satisfaction, and scored higher on the Vigor-Activity subscale of the Profile of Mood States (POMS) than those who lived in a nursing home. Nursing home residents scored higher on the Depression-Dejection, Tension-Anxiety, and Confusion-Bewilderment subscales of the POMS. No between group differences were shown on the Anger-Hostility and Fatigue-Inertia subscales of the POMS. The diminished life satisfaction and high depression found in the nursing home residents hold immediate implications for professionals who work in this area.
Gueldner
S H
SH
School of Nursing, Pennsylvania State University, 201 Health and Human Development East, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
Loeb
S
S
Morris
D
D
Penrod
J
J
Bramlett
M
M
Johnston
L
L
Schlotzhauer
P
P
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000786:Anger; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D003221:Confusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D004522:Educational Status; D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006791:Hostility; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D015144:Southeastern United States