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Contribution to Book
The Measurement of Life Satisfaction and Happiness in Old-Old Age
Understanding Well-Being in the Oldest Old
  • Alex J. Bishop, Oklahoma State University
  • Peter Martin, Iowa State University
Document Type
Book Chapter
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
1-1-2011
DOI
10.1017/CBO9780511920974.018
Abstract

Happiness and satisfaction with life has emerged as a renewed topic of interest among gerontological investigators. However, the conceptualization of life satisfaction and happiness in advanced later life can present challenges relative to selection of proper measurement instrumentation. This chapter addresses the conceptualization and measurement of life satisfaction and happiness in very old age in three key ways. First, the conceptualization of subjective well-being is addressed in reference to the oldest old. Second, psychometric properties pertaining to past and current use of classical (e.g., Life Satisfaction Index-A), second-generation (e.g., Satisfaction with Life Scale), and domain-specific (e.g., Retirement Satisfaction Index) measures of subjective well-being within old and very old populations is addressed. Third, future directions for the advancement of measurement of subjective well-being in old-old populations are highlighted.

Comments

This book chapter is published as Bishop, A., & Martin, P. (2011). The measurement of life satisfaction and happiness in old-old age. In L. W. Poon & J. Cohen-Mansfield (Eds.), Understanding the well-being of the oldest old (pp. 290-331). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. DOI: 10.1017/CBO9780511920974.018 . Posted with permission.

Copyright Owner
Cambridge University Press
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Alex J. Bishop and Peter Martin. "The Measurement of Life Satisfaction and Happiness in Old-Old Age" Understanding Well-Being in the Oldest Old Vol. Chapter 17 (2011) p. 290 - 331
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/peter-martin/31/