Motivational and behavioral correlates of life satisfaction in an elderly sample

This study examined the relationship between self-reported life satisfaction of elderly persons and their motivation for competence as assessed on self-ratings and indirect measures of needs for achievement and affiliation. Behavioral data relating to frequency of engaging in mastery-type activities, social interactions and exercise were also gathered. This sample described themselves as content with their lives and healthy relative to normative levels. As predicted, there was a marked discrepancy between self-report and implicit measures of motivation, with self-reported motives being significantly correlated with satisfaction (i.e., r = .33 for Achievement and r = .30 for Affiliation) and implicit motives not significantly correlated with satisfaction. Needs for achievement and affiliation on the whole did not significantly correlate with actual life circumstances. The results suggest that competence motivation may play a small part in the contentment which older individuals feel in their lives.