Skip to main content
Log in

Age, Gender and Quality of Life

  • Published:
Community Mental Health Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper addresses the effect of age andgender on the subjective quality of life of people withsevere and persistent mental illness. Subjective qualityof life was assessed in a group of 95 men and 70 women using the Satisfaction with LifeDomains Scale (SLDS) and five open-ended questions.Although statistical analyses showed no differencebetween men and women on quality of life, age wassystematically related to satisfaction level with olderparticipants being more satisfied with their lives thantheir younger counterparts. Responses to the open-endedquestions revealed that fewer of the older, more satisfied respondents expressed worries, desirefor change and plans for the future. These results arediscussed with respect to the links between subjectivequality of life, aspirations and the rehabilitation process.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Andrews, F.M. & Withey, S.B. (1976). Social indicators of well-being. New York: Plenum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Angermeyer, M.C., Kün, L. & Goldstein, J.M. (1990). Gender and the course of schizophrenia: Differences in treated outcomes. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 16, 293–307.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bachrach, L.L. (1984). Deinstitutionalization and women: Assessing the consequences of public policy. American Psychologist, 39,(10), 1171–1177.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baker, F. & Intagliata, J. (1982). Quality of life in the evaluation of community support systems. Evaluation and Program Planning, 5, 69–79.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brickman, P., Coates, D. & Janoff-Bulman, R. (1978). Lottery winners and accident victims: Is happiness relative? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 36, 917–927.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Busfield, J. (1982). Gender and mental illness. International Journal of Mental Health, 11, 46–66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Calman, K.C. (1984) Quality of life in cancer patients: A hypothesis. J Med Ethics, 10, 124–127.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, A., Converse, P.E. & Rogers, W.L. (1976). The quality of American life. Russell Sage Foundation.

  • Cohen, J. (1994). The earth is round (p<.05). American Psychologist, 49, 997–1003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DeSisto, M., Harding, C.M., McCormick, R.V., Ashikaga, T. & Brooks, G.W. (1995). The Maine and Vermont Three-Decade Studies of Serious Mental Illness. II. Longitudinal Course Comparisons. British Journal of Psychiatry, 167, 338–242.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E. (1984). Subjective well-being. Psychological Bulletin, 95, 542–575.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Donohue, M.V. & Lieberman, H. (1992). Social competence of male and female psychiatric patients: Sociability, social presence, socialization and age of onset of psychosis. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 12,(1), 25–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Emmons, R. A., Diener, E. & Larsen, R.J. (1985). Choice of situations and congruence models of interactionism. Pers Indiv Differ, 6, 693–702.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Endicott, J., Spitzer, R.L., Fleiss, J.L. & Cohen, J. (1976). The Global Assessment Scale. A procedure for measuring overall severity of psychiatric disturbance. Archives of General Psychiatry, 33, 766–771.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Farina, A. (1981). Are women nicer people than men? Sex and the stigma of mental disorders. Clinical Psychology Review, 1, 223–243.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haas, G.L., Glick, I.D., Clarkin, J.F., Spencer, J.H. & Lewis, A.B. (1990). Gender and schizophrenia outcome: A clinical trial of an inpatient family intervention. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 16, 277–292.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Harding, C.M., Zubin, J. & Strauss, J.S. (1987). Chronicity in schizophrenia: Fact, partial fact, or antifact? Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 38,(5), 477–486.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kearns, R.A., Taylor, S.M. & Dear, M. (1987). Coping and satisfaction among the chronically mentally disabled. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health, 6,(2), 13–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lehman, A. F. (1988). A quality of life interview for the chronically mentally ill. Evaluation Program Planning, 11(1), 51–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lehman, A.F., Slaughter, J.G. & Myers, C.P. (1992). Quality of life experiences of the chronically mentally ill: Gender and stages of life effects. Evaluation and Program Planning, 15, 7–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McGlashan, T.H. & Bardenstein, K.K. (1990). Gender differences in affective, schizoaffective, and schizophrenic disorders. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 16, 319–329.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mercier, C. & King, S. (1994). A latent causal model of the quality of life of psychiatric patients. Acta Psychiat Scand, 89, 72–77.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Michalos, A.C. (1980). Satisfaction and Happiness. Social Indicators Research, 8, 385–422.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Michalos, A.C. (1985). Multiple discrepancies theory (MDT). Social Indicators Research, 16,(4), 347–414.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mueser, K.T., Bellack, A.S., Morrison, R.L. & Wade, J.H. (1990). Gender, social competence and symptomatology in schizophrenia: A longitudinal analysis. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 2, 138–147.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pepper, B. & Ryglewicz, H. (Eds.) (1982). The young adult chronic patient: New directions for mental health services. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Randolph, F.L., Lindenberg, R.E. & Menn, A.Z. (1986). Residential facilities for the mentally ill: Needs assessment and community planning. Community Mental Health Journal, 22,(2), 77–89.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt, F. (In press). Statistical significance testing and cumulative knowledge in psychology: Implication for the training of researchers. Psychological Methods.

  • Segal, S.P. & Everett-Dille, L. (1980). Coping styles and factors in male/female social integration. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 61, 8–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spivack, G., Siegel, J., Sklaver, D., Deuschle, L. & Garrett, L. (1982). The long-term patient in the community: Life style patterns and treatment implications. Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 33,(4), 291–295.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Test, M.A., Burke, S.S. & Walisch, L.S. (1990). Gender differences of young adults with schizophrenic disorders in community care. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 16, 331–344.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wattie, B.J.S., K. & Edward, H.B. (1985). Gender differences in living conditions found among male and female schizophrenic patients in a follow-up study. International Journal of Social Psychology, 31, 205–216.

    Google Scholar 

  • WHOQOL Group (1993). The development of the WHO quality of life assessment instrument (The WHOQOL). In J. Orley & W. Kuyken (Eds.), Quality of life assessment: International perspectives. London: Springer-Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mercier, C., Peladeau, N. & Tempier, R. Age, Gender and Quality of Life. Community Ment Health J 34, 487–500 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018790429573

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018790429573

Keywords

Navigation