Predictor Variables Related to the Classification of Happy and Unhappy Elderly People: Discriminant Function Analysis
AUTHORS
Eunhee Lee, Kyungnam University
ABSTRACT
This study attempted to find out, and validated, discriminant functions to differentiate happy and unhappy elderly. 300 seniors in a metropolitan area in Korea were individually interviewed regarding subjective well-being, economic and health state, extraversion, neuroticism, self-esteem, goal instability, generativity, and social support. We classified high and low group as the mean +1 standard deviation (SD) and -1 SD. This yielded 40 highs and 36 lows in life satisfaction. Also 31 seniors were classified as high and 37 as low in emotional well-being. Stepwise discriminant function analysis (DFA) yielded a function containing 3 variables (self-esteem, neuroticism, and goal instability), classifying 95% accurately into either high or low in emotional well-being. Another stepwise DFA yielded a function containing 2 variables (self-esteem and economic state), classifying 91% accurately into either high or low in life satisfaction. For cross-validation, 200 seniors were recruited from another city. The two functions were found to correctly classify 96% people for emotional well-being and 92% for life satisfaction..
KEYWORDS
elderly people, emotional well-being, life satisfaction, neuroticism, goal instability, self-esteem.
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