Adverse Life Events in Late Life: Their Manifestation and Management in Daily Life.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among major life events, chronic events, daily instrumental activities, and well-being. Fifty individuals between 73 and 93 years of age reported major life events, minor hassles and uplifts, and daily activities during 5 measurement periods. In addition, positive affect was assessed in situ 5 times per day on 6 consecutive days on the basis of a random time-sampling scheme. The effects of major life events on positive affect were transmitted through minor events. However, there was no evidence that the relationship between minor events and positive affect was moderated by the occurrence of a major event. The relationship between life events and positive affect, however, was moderated by change in instrumental activities. KEY WORDS: life events; minor events; active coping; costs; subjective well-being In late life, the majority of life experiences seem to be adverse: social losses, illness events, changes in roles, and shifts in patterns of daily events (Zautra, Affleck, & Tennen, 1994). Researchers have interpreted evidence accumulated since the 1960s to suggest that individuals exposed to adverse life events are at greater risk for the onset of distress and illness (Turner &

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