title: Psychological and physical dimensions explaining life satisfaction among the elderly: a structural model examination.
abstract: The aim of the present paper is to analyze the effects of psychological well-being, physical functioning and socio-demographic factors on life satisfaction. Both a bivariate and a multivariate level of analyses have been used. Finally, a structural model explaining life satisfaction has been developed and validated. With respect to bivariate relations, there was evidence of significant positive relations between psychological well-being dimensions and life satisfaction and between physical conditions and life satisfaction as well. Also, as age increased there was a slow decrease in life satisfaction. Educational level was positively related to life satisfaction. A structural model gave valuable information about the pattern of multivariate relationships among the variables. A first result of the model was the large effect of physical and psychological well-being on life satisfaction, albeit it was psychological well-being the major predictor of life satisfaction. A second result was that the effects of socio-demographic variables on life satisfaction were low and they operated through the effects that maintain either on psychological well-being (or its individual indicators) or on physical conditions. The role gender or age played was indirect rather than direct.
authors: Department of Developmental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Valencia, Av. Blasco Ibáñez, 21, 46010 Valencia, Spain. melendez@uv.es
authors: Juan Carlos
authors: JC
authors: Meléndez
authors: José Manuel
authors: JM
authors: Tomás
authors: Amparo
authors: A
authors: Oliver
authors: Esperanza
authors: E
authors: Navarro
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D013030:Spain