Life Satisfaction and Chronic Disease: Exploration of a Theoretical Model

This research was undertaken to demonstrate the usefulness of a theoretical model for explaining differences in the life satisfaction of persons with different chronic diseases. Through stepwise multiple regression, an assessment was made of the effects of social activity, perceived health, health l...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Medical care 1981-11, Vol.19 (11), p.1136-1146
Main Authors: Brown, Julia S., Rawlinson, May E., Hilles, Nancy C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Attitude to Health
Chronic Disease - psychology
Chronic diseases
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Coronary artery disease
Degree of disability
Disabilities
Disease models
Diseases
Female
Health Status
Humans
Internal-External Control
Male
Median income
Middle Aged
Models, Psychological
Personal Satisfaction
Quality of life
Social Adjustment
Wellbeing
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Summary:This research was undertaken to demonstrate the usefulness of a theoretical model for explaining differences in the life satisfaction of persons with different chronic diseases. Through stepwise multiple regression, an assessment was made of the effects of social activity, perceived health, health locus-of-control and degree of disability on the life satisfaction of 51 persons with coronary artery disease (CAD) and 32 persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Findings were as follows: (1) COPD patients were significantly less satisfied, less socially active and more disabled, and they perceived their health as poorer than did the CAD patients; (2) social activity emerged as the single best predictor of life satisfaction for both groups; (3) the second best predictor was perceived health for the CAD patients and degree of disability for the COPD patients; (4) the four variables accounted for 48 per cent of the variance in life satisfaction for the COPD patients, 12.4 per cent for the CAD patients. It was concluded that predictors of life satisfaction vary with the particular disease, as does the manner in which these factors interact to mitigate or compound the impact of the particular disease. Suggestions are made regarding modification of the theoretical model.
ISSN:0025-7079
1537-1948
DOI:10.1097/00005650-198111000-00006