title: Life satisfaction and frailty in community-based older adults: cross-sectional and prospective analyses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Frailty may be associated with reduced life satisfaction (LS). The objectives of this paper are to determine if (1) frailty is associated with LS in community-dwelling older adults in cross-sectional analyses; (2) frailty predicts LS five years later; and (3) specific domains of LS are preferentially associated with frailty.
  
  
  METHODS
  This paper presents analysis of an existing population-based cohort study of 1,751 persons aged 65+ who were assessed in 1991, with follow-up five years later. LS was measured using the terrible-delightful scale, which measures overall LS and LS in specific domains. Frailty was measured using the Brief Frailty Instrument. Analyses were adjusted for age, gender, education, and marital status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Frailty was associated with overall LS at time 1 and predicted overall LS at time 2. This was seen in unadjusted analyses and after adjusting for confounding factors. Frailty was associated with all domains of LS at time 1, and predicted LS at time 2 in all domains except housing and self-esteem. However, the effect was stronger for LS with health than with other domains for both times 1 and 2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Frailty is associated with LS, and the effect is strongest for LS with health.
authors.affiliation: Section of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, and the Centre on Aging, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: Philip D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: St John
authors.forename: Suzanne L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Tyas
authors.forename: Patrick R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Montgomery
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires