ASSOCIATIONS WITH LIFE SATISFACTION AMONG VERY ELDERLY PEOPLE LIVING IN A DEPRIVED PART OF INNER LONDON

In the present study 662 people, aged 85 and over, living at home in a socially deprived part of the east end of London were interviewed in order to ascertain their life circumstances, emotional well-being, mental and physical health status. The aim of the analyses presented here was to determine the impact of social networks and support, functional status and reported morbidity on life satisfaction. Multiple regression analysis showed that physical health status was a stronger predictor of emotional well-being in relation to life satisfaction than social network characteristics. The uniqueness of the study lies in its concentration on a very elderly age group, predominantly in the lower socio-economic classes. © 1990.