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The will-to-live scale: development, validation, and significance for elderly people
- Author:
- CARMEL Sara
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 21(3), 2017, pp.289-296.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objectives: In old age, the will-to-live (WTL) is one of the most important indicators of subjective well-being (SWB). However, few studies to date have focused on WTL. In these studies, WTL has mainly been evaluated via indirect questions concerning factors that may influence peoples’ WTL, or by measures directed to patients with specific diseases. The current study describes the development and psychometric properties of a new WTL scale. Method: The five-item WTL scale was developed on the basis of previous qualitative and quantitative research, and was evaluated in a longitudinal study of a random sample of 868 adults, aged 75+. Results: Confirmatory factor analytic (CFA) models were computed showing that each of the five items contributed significantly to measurement of a single WTL latent factor. Goodness-of-fit statistics were in ideal parameters for these CFA models at each point of data collection. Moreover, temporal analyses indicated that the relative contribution to measurement for each item was equivalent across time, attesting to reliability of measurement and the construct validity of WTL measurement. Concurrent validity was supported by significant positive correlations between WTL and life satisfaction, happiness, self-rated health, morale, self-rated aging, and, as expected, by inverse associations of WTL with depression and loneliness. Conclusion: The results of these analyses indicate that the WTL scale is a valid and reliable instrument. Considering the importance of the WTL concept in late life, and the psychometric properties of the WTL scale, the authors recommend it for use in research and practice related to older adults’ SWB and end-of-life care. (Edited publisher abstract)
Subjective well-being of visually impaired older adults living in the community
- Authors:
- RAFAELY Liran, CARMEL Sara, BACHNER Yaacov G.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 22(9), 2018, pp.1223-1231.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objectives: Vision impairment is one of the most common disabilities among older adults, and it has a substantial impact on well-being. The present study constructs an integrative model to identify which variables derived from four dimensions of life (physical/functional, social, psychological and environmental) combined with sociodemographic variables explain the overall subjective well-being (SWB) visually impaired older adults living in the community. Method: A total of 121 severe visually impaired persons, aged 60 and over (M = 77.4, range 60–95), participated in the study. Personal, face-to-face interviews were conducted with participants at social centres or at their homes. Research tools consisted of valid and reliable questionnaires. Results: Five variables explained the older adults' variability in SWB: self-rated health, sense of meaning in life, functional independence in activity of daily living (ADL), sense of control of one's environment (Mastery) and the participant's age. The explained variance percentage was found to be high (61%). In contrast to expectations, social-environmental variables proved to be only of secondary significance in explaining SWB variability. Discussion: Variables derived from the psychological dimension appear more significant than the social-environmental variables in explaining SWB among visually impaired older adults. These variables should be considered when developing intervention programmes intended to increase SWB within this unique population group. (Edited publisher abstract)