Changes over 4 years in health, quality of life, mental health, and valuation of life.

Objective: This longitudinal study explores how the relationship between changes in physical health and changes in valuation of life (VOL) may be affected by changes in quality of life and in mental health.

Method: 335 community residents older than age 70 were interviewed over a 4-year period. Analysis used correlation and regression models.

Results: The association between changes in health and changes in VOL was of little significance when quality of life and mental health mediators came into the picture.

Discussion: It is important for practitioners and clinicians to recognize that the way many old persons view their time use and their psychological well-being may be more salient than their physical health as old persons consider the value of their lives. As Lawton and colleagues suggested,"health is not the only determinant of VOL and decrement not the only direction of change."