title: The management of subjective quality of life by short-stay hospital patients: an exploratory study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study tested the homeostatic model of subjective quality of life in a group of 47 short stay patients as they progressed through the stages of hospitalization for surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants completed a questionnaire measuring subjective quality of life, positive and negative affect, self-esteem, optimism and cognitive flexibility, the day prior to admission (T1), two days post-operation (T2) and one week after discharge (T3). Neuroticism and Extroversion were measured at Time 1.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All variables remained stable across the three times, apart from positive affect, which dropped significantly post-operation but returned to its previous level post discharge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the homeostatic model of subjective quality of life was supported at Time 1, the analyses raise doubts about the stability of personality. This finding is consistent with recent discussions of personality.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia. mellor@deakin.edu.au
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Mellor
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Cummins
authors.forename: Evelyn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Karlinski
authors.forename: Shane P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Storer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires