A Comparison between Daily Hassles and Major Life Events as Correlates of Well-being in Older Adults

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to determine if daily hassles are stronger correlates of physical and psychological well-being in the elderly than major life events. The contribution of these and other correlates, including self-rated health, to the best predictive model of both physical and psychological well-being was evaluated. Two hundred older adults reported major life events during the past three years and were administered the Hassles Scale and the Perceived Well-Being Scale. Subjects also reported the presence of chronic illnesses and rated their health and limitation in daily activities as a consequence of each chronic illness. Stepwise multiple regression analyses revealed that (1) self-rated health, limitation in daily activities, and frequency of hassles are related to physical well-being, and (2) psychological well-being is associated with frequency of daily hassles, age, and limitation in daily activities. Frequency of major life events does not contribute significantly to either model. Similar results were obtained by using either the Hassles Scale or only non-symptomatic hassles as correlates. The results of this study show frequency of daily hassles to be a stronger correlate of well-being than frequency of major life events. © 1992, Canadian Association on Gerontology. All rights reserved.