Life satisfaction and its correlates in older women with osteoarthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the relationships among functional disability, chronic daily stress, coping strategies, beliefs about personal control, social support, and life satisfaction in older women with osteoarthritis.


METHODS
A descriptive, correlational design was used.


METHODS
The study participants were 107 women aged 60 years or older.


METHODS
Study participants completed six survey questionnaires and a demographic form.


RESULTS
Bivariate correlational analyses showed that older women with poorer functional ability experienced greater chronic daily stress, reported more frequent use of emotion-focused coping strategies, and had a higher chance health locus of control. A hierarchic regression analysis revealed that the perceived social support and internal health locus of control significantly contributed to the prediction of life satisfaction after demographic, illness-related, and stress-related variables were controlled.


CONCLUSIONS
Stress management strategies matched to the participants' style of coping process can increase their sense of control over their health and enhance their social networks and activities.
Tak
Sunghee H
SH
College of Nursing, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
Laffrey
Shirley C
SC
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000523:psychology*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*