Stability and change in subjective well-being in old age

Results from a 9-year longitudinal study

Abstract

  This study examined intra-individual change in subjective well-being during old age. Subjective well-being was assessed using the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale. Data were drawn from the National Survey of the Japanese Elderly over a period of nine years with four measurement occasions (n = 2,169; age 60−94 years at Wave 1). With the estimation of the missing data, latent growth curve modeling revealed that subjective well-being did not change over time, indicating that subjective well-being remained stable. When exploring relevant factors for inter-individual differences in intra-individual change, older age at Wave 1 was related to lower levels and higher rates of change in subjective well-being. Drop-outs including the deceased showed lower levels of subjective well-being relative to continuers of the panel. Our findings replicated age-related stability of subjective well-being, and suggested that appropriate missing data techniques should be applied to longitudinal data. Further research with a longer follow-up period, more measurement occasions, and potential covariates should be able to provide a more detailed description of trajectories in subjective well-being and its covariates.