This study examined reminiscence functions and vivid (i.e., landmark) personal memories in nine samples ranging from the teens to the nineties. Participants (n = 198) ranging in age from 18-95 years completed the Reminiscence Functions Scale (Webster, 1997) and described a vivid personal memory which was subsequently rated for frequency of recall,…

Tested Erikson's theory of an ego integrity versus despair crisis in old age using interviews with 40 older adults. Four integrity statuses were defined: integrity achieving, dissonant, foreclosed, despairing. Results supported the validity of the integrity status construct and the interview designed to measure it. (JAC)

Uses a life-stress questionnaire modified for older respondents to study the impact of life stress in 62 patients hospitalized for neurobehavioral treatment. Results suggest that 17 items may be sufficient to estimate life-change effects. The degree of stress impact must be sought systematically to understand stress. (Author/JAC)

Increased divorce rates, declining marriage rates, and a predisposition to widowhood in later life all contribute to the heterogeneous marital histories of women approaching retirement. Existing research on retirement, however, has not considered the diversity in marital status that exists among retired women. The purpose of the present study was…

Control beliefs and social relationships have been individually assessed in relation to adaptation to chronic illness, although only rarely together. Further, some control scales show psychometric limitations in older adult samples. To address these concerns, a scale assessing external control was created by factor analyzing the items from…

Compared structure of social support and its relation to health, affect, and life satisfaction for national representative sample of elderly and a distressed sample from South Miami Beach. Stronger relationships were found between support network size and affect and between affect, life satisfaction, and health in the South Miami Beach sample.…

Reexamined the NORC Happiness Scale based on a survey of 1400 urban and nonurban elderly. Results indicated a high proportion of urban elderly were bored, depressed, and lonely as well as proud, excited, and interested. Their apparent inconsistent feeling states may result from a general feeling of deprivation. (Author)

This study investigates interrelationships among age, physical disability, introspectiveness, and depression. Results show that older people report less introspectiveness than do younger people. Disabled respondents experience a more positive relationship between introspectiveness and depression; however, disabled respondents' poorer global health…