Masters Theses

Date of Award

8-1981

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major Professor

John M. Peters

Committee Members

Patricia Freeman

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether life situation factors have a different effect on the life satisfaction of adults over five age-stages. The data were derived from the Myth and Reality of Aging survey conducted in 1974 by Louis Harris and Associates. The sample consisted of 4,254 respondents randomly drawn from U.S. census records.

Multivariate analysis was used to construct models of life satisfaction for five age-stages: Post-Adolescence (ages 18-21), Early Adulthood (ages 22-34), Early Middle Age (ages 35-44), Late Middle Age (ages 45-64), and Late Adulthood (age 65 and over). Health, income, education, activity, social involvement, and the importance of religion were examined as possible determinants of life satisfaction. The study revealed the following: (1) life satisfaction was the highest in Early Middle Age and progressively declined throughout successive stages; (2) health, income, and activity were the factors that most affected life satisfaction in Early Adulthood; (3) education had the greatest effect on life satisfaction in Early Middle Age; health had its greatest effect in Late Adulthood, and income in Early Adulthood; (4) Early Middle Age was the only age-stage in which religion importance had an effect on life satisfaction; (5) there was an interactive effect between sex and life situation factors as they relate to life satisfaction.

It was concluded that not only do adults fluctuate in life satisfaction levels across age-stages, but life situation factors affect life satisfaction differently at each age-stage. Recommendations were made for further research and for incorporating the findings in this study into adult education programs.

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