Levels of satisfaction with life as a whole (happiness) and with eight different domains were investigated using mailed questionnaires in four age cohorts (25-, 35-, 45- and 55-year-olds) of men and women. With a few exceptions (vocational and financial satisfaction) levels of global and domain-specific satisfaction were not age-dependent and few gender differences were found. The generally high levels of satisfaction correspond well to those found in the USA and in Germany. Satisfaction with expressive (emotion-related) domains was greater in women than in men, and the provider items - satisfaction with vocational and financial situation -were influenced by age. The eight domains formed three meaningful factors: the first characterized satisfaction derived from expressive goals; the second from spare-time goals; and the third factor was instrumental (performance-related), characterizing satisfaction derived from provider goals. The three factors predicted gross level of happiness (happy/not happy) for 82% of subjects with complete answers, all three factors being significant predictors.

A consecutive series of 413 impotent men and 109 References rated their satisfaction with life as a whole and with seven different domains of life along a six graded scale ranging from very satis®ed to very dissatis®ed. In a subsample of impotent men treated with PGE 1 these self-ratings were repeated applying the concept that dissatisfaction re¯ects an aspirations/achievement gap and successful treatment leads not only to increased sexual well-being but also to increased satisfaction with life as a whole. Regardless of the etiology of impotence pre-treatment level of sexual satisfaction was very low. In assumedly psychogenically impotent men levels of satisfaction with life as a whole, partnership and family life were also low. Using factor analytic technique satisfaction with sexual life was found to be a powerful predictor for satisfaction with life as a whole. In successfully PGE 1 -treated men pre-treatment decreased levels of satisfaction were signi®cantly increased and generally normalization occurred.

No abstract

Activity is essential for all human beings, and provides a means through which human beings develop, gain recognition, and fulfil life's goals. The focus for this study was on activities performed by people with a chronic disease and their effects on experienced life satisfaction. Thirty subjects with multiple sclerosis (MS) were interviewed with regard to activities of daily living (ADL), and checklists were used for activity preferences and levels of satisfaction with life as a whole and with nine domain-specific forms of life satisfaction. The results of the study reveal 14 of the subjects to be satisfied and 16 to be dissatisfied. The main differences between the two groups were that the satisfied were less tired, and that they were more independent in self-care. Those in the satisfied group reported being more satisfied with leisure situation (57%, cf. 25% in the dissatisfied group) and housekeeping ability (36%, cf. 6% in the dissatisfied group). Leisure and housekeeping appear to have an impact on subjects' experienced satisfaction, and are factors to be taken into consideration by occupational therapists when treating MS patients.

Although few significant differences between the three treatment groups the BAT and FK seemed to improve health-related quality of life and self-efficacy of pain to a somewhat higher degree than the conventional physiotherapy. SOC seemed to be a stable trait measure over time.