Abstract
This study examines two related issues concerning the subjective well-being of elderly adults: change over time and correlates of that change. Data come from a three-wave panel study of 401 elderly residents in St. Louis. Residualized change score regression analyses indicate: (1) there is change in subjective well-being over 4–5 months and over 12 months; (2) the 4–5 month and 12 month changes are remarkably similar; (3) the effect of subjective well-being over time indicates regression to the mean; and, (4) only socioeconomic status is a significant predictor of change in subjective well-being (net of the effects of subjective well-being itself). The implications of these results for our understanding of subjective well-being in the elderly are discussed, as are the policy implications of the positive effect of socioeconomic status on changes in the subjective well-being of the elderly.
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Additional information
Dr. Wolinsky is with Texas A&M University. Dr. Coe, Dr. Miller, and Dr. Prendergast are all with both the St. Louis University Medical Center and the Veterans Administration Medical Center, St. Louis.
The collection of the data used in this study was supported in part by a grant to Dr. Coe from the Alexian Brothers Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. The analysis of the data and the preparation of this manuscript was supported by a Research Career Development Award (5-K04-AG-00202-02) granted to Dr. Wolinsky by the National Institute on Aging. The authors thank Ray Mosely II, and Linda K. George whose comments on an earlier draft were most helpful. The views and opinions expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policy of any of the participating institutions. Address all communications to Dr. Wolinsky, Department of Sociology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-4351.
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Wolinsky, F.D., Coe, R.M., Miller, D.K. et al. Correlates of change in subjective well-being among the elderly. J Community Health 10, 93–107 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01326514
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01326514