Change in life satisfaction: a longitudinal study of persons aged 46-70

Longitudinal analyses were performed on changes in life satisfaction among a sample of 378 community residents, aged 46-70. There were no significant changes in the mean life satisfaction scores for any age-sex cohort and no significant differences between the sexes, although there were some individual changes. Life satisfaction at the end of a 4-year-period was significantly related to initial levels of self-rated health, social actiivty, and sexual enjoyment. Attempts to predict residual change in life satisfaction by initial levels or by changes in these variables were largely unsuccessful.