Type of Document	Dissertation
Author	Jones, Cristina Llanos
URN	etd-04012010-122959
Title	The Relationship Between Health Status, Life Satisfaction, and Humor As A Coping Mechanism Among Noninstitutionalized Older Adults
Degree	Doctor of Philosophy
Department	Educational Psychology and Learning Systems, Department of
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Deborah Ebener Committee Chair Jeannine Turner Committee Member Susan Smedema Committee Member Sandra Lewis University Representative
Keywords	Health Life Satisfaction Humor Aging Coping
Date of Defense	2010-03-03
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract The older adult population is growing faster than any other cohort of people. By the year 2011, the baby boomers will start turning age 65, presenting a problem for public policy and health care systems. One of the key components of successful aging is the maintenance of good health. Numerous studies have extensively documented the link between good health and high life satisfaction. Humor has also been shown to be a positive coping mechanism used by older adults to combat the stressors of aging. The current study explored the relationship between health status, life satisfaction, and humor as a coping mechanism among noninstitutionalized older adults. The sample consisted of 109 participants over the age of 65. Structural equation modeling with latent variables indicated that health status and life satisfaction were highly correlated with an increase in health status leading to an increase in life satisfaction. However, coping with humor neither correlated nor mediated the relationship between health status and life satisfaction. Reasons for these results are explored and suggestions for future studies are presented.
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