The will-to-live scale: development, validation, and significance for elderly people

Abstract

The results of these analyses indicate that the WTL scale is a valid and reliable instrument. Considering the importance of the WTL concept in late life, and the psychometric properties of the WTL scale, we recommend it for use in research and practice related to older adults' SWB and end-of-life care.

Is a Decline in Will to Live a Consequence or Predictor of Depression in Late Life?

“…This is consistent with findings showing that older persons with illnesses such as dementia and cardiovascular disease are more likely to have depression than their healthier counterparts . As expected, previous studies have also reported significant positive associations between health and WTL, but age, which usually is associated with a decline in health, correlated with and predicted WTL but did not correlate with health and did not predict DS. The relatively small variability in age (average age 80.8±3.9) in our sample might explain the lack of association between age and health.…”

“…Considering the importance of depression and WTL as indicators of mental health and predictors of survival of older adults and the significant associations found between them, the purpose of this study was to empirically examine the longitudinal direction of effect between these phenomena in late life.…”

“…Screening interventions can be implemented in primary care settings and in other health and welfare services and institutions, including assisted living facilities and nursing homes, as well as in general geriatric evaluations. The WTL‐Scale, which was reported as valid, parsimonious, easily used, and well accepted by older adults, (Supplementary Appendix S1) can be used for this purpose. We further recommend strengthening the WTL as a protective psychobiological resource for people who have been identified as having a weak or declining WTL.…”

“…The WTL Scale includes 5 items with 6 possible responses on Likert scales ranging from 0 (no WTL) to 6 (very strong WTL) (see Supplementary Appendix S1) . The index is based on the average score of the responses to the 5 items.…”

“…A growing body of research in community‐dwelling older adults and terminally ill individuals suggests that WTL declines with age and is inversely associated with depression, but WTL and depression are not opposite sides of the same phenomenon . WTL and depression are presented as important indicators of mental health and significant predictors of survival in later life .…”