Sources of Personal Meaning in a Sample of Young-Old and Old-Old Israelis

Abstract

Sources of meaning in life were studied for 210 elderly Israelis, looking at the differences between the 106 old-old (mean age = 87) and 104 young-old (mean age = 71). Two sets of comparisons were made: between the old-old and young-old living in the community, and between the old-old living in the community and the old-old living in an institutional facility. The assumptions were that age would not be a differentiating factor in sources of meaning between the young-old and old-old in the community, but that meaning scores for old-old institutional dwellers would differ significantly- from those of old-old community dwellers. Using the 16-item Sources of Meaning: Profile (SOMP) the authors found that there were few significant differences between the young-old and old-old community dwellers. The findings did point to significant differences in sources and depth or strength of meaning between old-old community and institution dwellers. The findings are discussed with reference to adjustment to the instit...