Social reconstruction variables and the morale of the aged

Key variables from the Kuypers and Bengtson social reconstruction model were operationalized to investigate their relationship to selected measures of morale. They were incorporated in a questionnaire that was completed by 229 retired, noninstitutionalized men and women. Social reconstruction variables were found to have stronger correlations with morale measures than were demographic variables such as age and social class. Reconstruction variables were found to have significant relationships with measures of general happiness and self-esteem, but not with Form A of the Life Satisfaction Index. The interactive effect of social reconstruction variables with one another relative to morale was particularly indicative of the potential heuristic value of the model for both theory and practice.