The will to live and death-related decline in life satisfaction

Sara Carmel, Amit Shrira, Dov Shmotkin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between the will to live (WTL) and death-related decline in life satisfaction in 382 decedents who participated in a national 3-wave study (mean age at study entry 79 years). Growth-curve models revealed that distance to death was more predictive of declines in life satisfaction than chronological age. WTL moderated, but did not mediate, death-related decline in life satisfaction. Those with high WTL did not show a decrease in life satisfaction as death approached. This study highlights an important motivational construct, WTL, which regulates life satisfaction when death approaches

Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)1115-1123
Number of pages9
JournalPsychology and Aging
Volume28
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Dec 2013

Keywords

  • Distance to death
  • Life satisfaction
  • Will to live

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Social Psychology
  • Ageing
  • Geriatrics and Gerontology

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