Examined the friendship patterns of older women (N=150). Results indicated the older widowed women received more help from their friends than did married older women. In addition, significant differences in the morale of the older women were found according to the equity of helping behaviors with friends. (JAC)

Discusses life satisfaction, happiness, and morale, three indicators of subjective well-being that have been of particular interest to psychosocial gerontologists. Two problems in the use of such indicators--usage variance and inappropriate assessment level--are examined. Potential solutions to these problems are suggested and discussed briefly.…

Compared the interpersonal involvement and morale of elderly persons residing in the community (N=154) and senior citizen housing (N=78). The senior housing residents had slightly larger and more supportive interpersonal networks but less contact with their closest friends. No differences were found in the two housing groups' life satisfaction.…

Assesses the relationship between informal activity with friends and morale among a sample of Black and White elderly. Results indicated that informal activity with friends has a significant relationship with morale among White elderly, but not among Blacks. (Author)

Objective social integration only has an indirect impact on morale, with subjective sense of integration being the intervening variable. This relationship remains significant even when other factors such as socioeconomic status, financial satisfaction, and health status were controlled. (Author)

Examines the degree to which previous factors shown to be related to morale were isomorphic for aged whites and aged blacks. Results indicate that for Blacks the only two significant predictors of morale were health and participation in solitary activities. For whites, interaction with family and sex were also found to be significant. (Author)

Pearson Product Momen correlation coefficients were computed for seven frequently used measures of life satisfaction, adjustment, and morale. Data were collected from 259 subjects over the age of 60 representing three clusters: institutionalized older people, those with limited ambulation, and "community" aged. Intercorrelations indicate…

A fully recursive path model heuristically depicting a causative chain between financial situation, health satisfaction, satisfaction with standard of living, satisfaction with family life, and satisfaction with life as a whole was examined. The model was shown to be an effective predictor of satisfaction with life for each sex. (Author)

Tabular analysis of responses from 595 elderly parents showed their filial responsibility expectations to be inversely associated with morale. Although the low income sample restricts generalizability, the findings suggest that in modern, urban settings high FR expectancies are inconsistent with high levels of morale. Implications for social…

Tenants moving into congregate (N=78) and traditional housing (N=122) were studied immediately before and one year after occupancy in order to determine what changes in well-being might be ascribed to the difference in levels of supportive services offered in the two environments. (Author)

Examines the effects of contemporaneous circumstances on the death attitudes of older adults. Findings suggest that the present social and psychological environment of the aged plays a less significant role in their attitudes toward death than is presently reflected in social gerontology. (Author)

Path analysis was used on survey responses of 1106 persons age 50 or over. Stage one variables were recent retirement, recent widowhood or divorce, age, and sex. Stage two variables included self-rated health, functional health, health trend, and self-rated income adequacy. It was expected that these variables might directly affect morale or…

Indirect self-destructive behavior (ISDB) is associated with direct suicide potential, dissatisfaction with the treatment program and with life in general, confused reasoning and judgment, poor prognosis for discharge, the absence of religious commitment, and significant losses in the patient's life. ISDB is an alternative form of suicide. (Author)

Some individuals adjust well to retirement despite few material possessions and health deterioration, while others have many possessions and good health and are still unhappy. To determine the factors that influence an older adult's satisfaction with retirement, a measure of an individual's status was developed, and the resulting questionnaire was…

Examines the structure of the Philadelphia Geriatric Center (PGC) Morale Scale using a multiple indicator structural equation model. Based on the 1968 National Senior Citizens Survey, the model is consistently replicated across four subsamples. The claim that the PGC Morale Scale is multidimensional is only appropriate for first-order factors.…