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Which personal quality of life domains affect the happiness of older South Africans?
Which personal quality of life domains affect the happiness of older South Africans?
Margaret, S.W. Steve, A.S.O. Lee-Chayne, J.R.
Margaret, S.W.
Steve, A.S.O.
Lee-Chayne, J.R.
Abstract
Abstract
Objective To ascertain which quality of life domains
affect the happiness of older South Africans.
Method Seven hundred and ten respondents, aged
between 50 years and 93 years, participated in the study.
Seven single items assessed satisfaction with: oneself,
family life, friendship, one’s time to do things, neighbours,
social life and health. Responses were summed for overall
quality of life. A 31-item scale measured satisfaction with
activities (16 items), financial situation (7 items) and
people (8 items). One item measured global happiness.
Results Coefficient alpha was 0.90 (7-item quality of life
scale), 0.95 (activities scale) and 0.87 (finances and people
scales). Although there some racial differences on the 10
quality of life domains and happiness, Black respondents,
who acted as caregivers, had a poorer quality of life and
were less happy (P < 0.05) than those without these
responsibilities. Stepwise multiple regression revealed that
satisfaction with social life was the most important predictor
of happiness for Blacks and Indians; satisfaction
with oneself for Whites, and time to do things for Coloureds.
Overall findings suggested that three out of the ten
domains adequately represented perceived quality of life,
care-giving responsibilities negatively affect quality of life
and happiness and race plays a role in predicting happiness.
Description
Date
2007-07-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Springer Netherlands.
Collections
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Keywords
Personal quality of life , Happiness , Older South Africans.
Citation
Westaway MS, Olorunju SAS, Rai L-CJ. Which personal quality of life domains affect the happiness of older South Africans? Quality of Life Research: An International Journal of Quality of Life Aspects of Treatment, Care and Rehabilitation - Official Journal of the International Society of Quality of Life Research [Internet].