Correlates of life satisfaction among elderly African Americans.

ABSTRACT

This study examined the correlates of Life Satisfaction among older African Americans. The sample consisted of 166 African Americans ranging in age from 65 to 88 years. There were 87 males and 79 females. Included as predictors of Life Satisfaction were self-rated health, self-perceived adequacy of income, weekly hours of participation in church activities, and family role involvement. The results of the study confirmed that family role involvement and participation in church activities were significant predictors of Life Satisfaction among African American elderly in general. Results also indicated significant sex differences. Females tended to manifest greater life satisfaction than males. Females also had higher mean scores on hours of church participation per week, scored higher on family role involvement, and were more likely than males to consider their incomes adequate. Therefore, separate correlation and regression analyses were run for male and female respondents. These analyses indicated that among males, family role involvement and hours of church participation were related significantly to life satisfaction, as were self-perceived adequacy of income, actual household income, educational level, and self-rated religiosity. Among females, only self-rated religiosity was a significant predictor of life satisfaction. This finding was attributed to the generally high levels of family role involvement and church participation among female respondents.