Evaluation of Subjective Happiness in the Elderly Using a Visual Analogue Scale of Happiness to Analyze the Effect of Life Style and Neurobehavioral Function on Subjective Happiness

• Published in: Nihon Rōnen Igakkai zasshi Vol. 29; no. 11; pp. 817 - 822
• Main Authors: Matsubayashi, K, Hamada, T, Ozawa, T, Iwasaki, T, Kawamoto, A, Okumiya, K, Kimura, S, Fujisawa, M, Takeuchi, K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan The Japan Geriatrics Society 01.11.1992
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; Activity of daily living (ADL); Aged - psychology; Family; Female; Happiness; Humans; Life Style; Male; Neurobehavioral function; Neuropsychological Tests; Personality Inventory; Psychomotor Performance; Social environment; Socioeconomic Factors; Subjective happiness; Visual analogue scale
• ISSN: 0300-9173
• DOI: 10.3143/geriatrics.29.817

The effects of activity of daily living (ADL), physical conditions, social environmental factors and neurobehavioral functions on subjective happiness were investigated in 313 elderly subjects. The degree of subjective happiness was measured using visual analogue scale of happiness (VAS-H). There was significant relationship between VAS-H and ADL. The VAS-H score had weak but significant correlation with physical conditions and neurobehavioral functions. The social environmental factors, especially economical conditions, family relationships and group behavior had a significant correlation with VAS-H. In conclusion, in apparent healthy elderly people, the subjective degree of happiness was not related to ADLs, but to social environment and information physical conditions.