Life events and life quality variability

Alex Zautra, Joseph Maio

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study used survey data from three Arizona communities in an attempt to test whether residents experiencing life crises would display less differentiation in ratings of quality of life. Reduced variance in life quality ratings was thought to identify life space constriction, which might function as a defense mechanism in times of high life stress. A Life Quality Variability (LQV) score was obtained for each resident, based on the variance in subjective ratings of items from a life quality scale. This score was analyzed in conjunction with measures of stressful life events. The results were contrary to expectations; life events were positively correlated with the LQV score. Additionally, it was noted that negative life events were more potent predictors than positive events of ratings of life quality.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)148-152
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Community Psychology
Volume9
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1981

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Social Psychology

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