Perceived quality of life
This chapter examines the quality of life (QoL) among older adults. The vast majority of research on subjective well being (SWB) of an individual focuses on the relationships between objective life conditions and perceived life quality. A research model discussed in the chapter is based on cross-sectional data that is designed to provide both a temporal and a conceptual template for understanding the determinants of SWB. In addition, the model suggests that some of the determinants of SWB will be partially or totally mediated by predictors that appear in later stages of the model. Among middle-aged and younger adults, income is the strongest single predictor of SWB and health is a much weaker predictor of SWB than among older adults. Activities are conceptualized and measured in multiple ways, ranging from those that involve social interaction to purely physical forms of activity to detailed categories based on time-budget data. All types of activities-social, physical, and solitary-predict higher levels of SWB in late life. Levels of activity also appear to mediate some of the relationships between the basic demographic characteristics and the perceived life quality. © 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.