Delineating terminal change in subjective well-being and subjective health

J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2010 Jan;65B(1):61-4. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbp095. Epub 2009 Nov 16.

Abstract

The present study investigated whether several evaluative indicators of subjective well-being (SWB) and subjective health decline as death approaches and which of them shows a stronger decline. Using three-wave longitudinal data from deceased participants of the Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Aging Study (N = 1,360; age range 75-94 at T1= Time 1), we found a stronger decline in most evaluative indicators when plotted by distance-to-death relative to distance from birth. After controlling for background characteristics and physical and cognitive functioning, death-related decline was still found for SWB but not for subjective health. Implications are discussed regarding the well-being paradox and the yet unclear mechanisms that link evaluative indicators to the dying process.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Attitude to Death*
  • Attitude to Health*
  • Cognition
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Geriatric Assessment / methods
  • Health Status*
  • Humans
  • Individuality
  • Longevity
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Quality of Life / psychology*
  • Self Concept