Daily event causation: An approach to elderly life quality

A conceptual framework for analyzing the role of daily events in the quality of life (QOL) of the elderly is presented. Concepts involving perceptions of control over the causation of daily events are shown to relate to positive and negative aspects of adjustment. Prior research by the authors has shown the utility of assessing the following event sequence: causation of event, response to event, outcome of event activity. The elements in this sequence can be related independently to QOL, and each or all can be differentially impacted by the aging process. The literature on four aspects of aging (retirement, death of a significant other, relocation, and institutionalization) and activity, disengagement, and congruence models are reviewed from an event‐activity approach. A single case study demonstrating the potential utility of the approach is presented.