Levels of and Changes in Life Satisfaction Predict Mortality Hazards:\nDisentangling the Role of Physical Health, Perceived Control, and Social\nOrientation

Abstract

It is well-documented that well-being typically evinces precipitous\ndecrements at the end of life. However, research has primarily taken a\npostdictive approach by knowing the outcome (date of death)\nand aligning in retrospect how well-being has changed for people with documented\ndeath events. In the present study, we made use of a predictive\napproach by examining whether and how levels of and\nchanges in life satisfaction prospectively predict\nmortality hazards and delineate the role of contributing factors, including\nhealth, perceived control, and social orientation. To do so, we applied shared\nparameter growth-survival models to 20-year longitudinal data from 10,597\nparticipants (n = 1,560 or 15% deceased; age at\nbaseline: M = 44 years, SD =\n17, range: 18–98 years) from the national German\nSocio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP). Our findings showed that lower levels and\nsteeper declines of life satisfaction each uniquely predicted higher mortality\nrisks. Results also reveal moderating effects of age and perceived control: Life\nsatisfaction levels and changes had stronger predictive effects for mortality\nhazards among older adults. Perceived control is associated with lower mortality\nhazards; however, this effect is diminished for those who experience accelerated\nlife satisfaction decline. Variance decomposition suggests that predictive\neffects of life satisfaction trajectories were partially unique\n(3–6%) and partially shared with physical health, perceived\ncontrol, and social orientation (17–19 %). Our discussion\nfocuses on the strengths and challenges of a predictive approach to link\ndevelopmental changes (in life satisfaction) to mortality hazards and considers\nimplications of our findings for healthy aging.