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SAGE Journal User Guide

Article 1:

Kulik, L. (2006). The impact of spousal variables on life satisfaction of individuals in late adulthood: The Israeli case. International Journal of Comparative Sociology, 47(1), 54-72.

Abstract:

We examine whether homogamy (similarity) in sociodemographic variables and personality traits in late adulthood is greater among couples characterized by high life satisfaction than among those characterized by low life satisfaction. The research sample included 256 participants (128 husbands and 128 wives) in Israel. The findings on homogamy in sociodemographic variables reveal no differences between participants in the ‘high’ and ‘low’ satisfaction groups. However, with regard to personality traits (self-esteem and anxiety), there are differences between participants in ‘high’ and ‘low’ satisfaction groups. In the high satisfaction group, the husbands (and the wives to some extent) have more similar personality traits than their counterparts in the low satisfaction group. In general, the findings reveal greater similarity in sociodemographic variables than in personality traits among the spouses. The findings also indicate that in late adulthood wives are less satisfied with life, have higher anxiety, and lower self-esteem than their husbands.

Questions to Consider:

1. Discuss the concept of homogamy and how it relates to life satisfaction in late adulthood.
2. Explain the implications of self-esteem and anxiety in late adult life satisfaction.
3. Describe the relevance of diverse family patterns in counseling clients in late adulthood.    

Article 2:

Yu, Y., Chamorro-Premuzic, T., & Honjo, S. (2008). Personality and defense mechanisms in late adulthood. Journal of Aging and Health, 20(5), 526-544.

Abstract:

Objective: Current understanding of the use of psychological defense mechanisms (DMs) in older adults is limited. This study set out to examine individual differences in DMs and Cloninger’s biosocial model of personality in two age groups (50–64, 65–93), as well as their influence on health. Methods: A Japanese community sample (N = 330) completed the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI-125), the Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ-40), and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). Results: Across age groups, psychological well-being was related to lower levels of harm avoidance and higher levels of self-directedness. In addition, older age was related to decreases in reward dependence, cooperativeness, and increases in self-transcendence, DMs of isolation, denial, and splitting. Discussion: An Age × Gender interaction revealed that men and women varied in their pattern of age differences for some specific DMs. Results further suggest that image-distortion defense may function to compensate resource loss.

Questions to Consider:

1. Explore the links between personality disposition with health and well-being in late adulthood. 
2. Discuss the possible implications of employing defense mechanisms on the lives of clients in late adulthood.
3. Explain the article’s discussion of age x gender interactions in use of defense mechanisms.