Life Satisfaction of Subpopulations of Elderly

Abstract

Although research generally indicates a positive relationship between activity and well-being, the strength of the relationship depends upon the presence or absence of personal and social resources such as health, solvency, residence, and surviving spouse as well as the nature of the activity itself. When such resources diminish, remaining activities take on added significance for maintaining morale. The present study investigates the relationship between elders who are volunteers, employed, or participating in meal site programs, and life satisfaction. The responses of 1400 systematically selected elders to a needs assessment survey in a four-county area in northwestern New England suggest that those individuals experiencing the greatest number of resource deficits, such as living alone, residing in a city, and being in poor health, benefitted the most from participating in these formal activities. An unanticipated finding was that the strongest and most consistent predictor of life satisfaction for disadvantaged elders was participation as a volunteer for the Retired Senior Volunteer Program.