A Customized Individual and Organizational Wellness Assessment

1
A Customized Individual and Organizational
Wellness Assessment Reed Engel, MA, FAWHP Tessa
Kieffer, MS, CHES Mather LifeWays Institute on
Aging Evanston, Illinois Research funded by
Mather LifeWays

• Conclusions
• Satisfaction and Dimensional
• Well-being
• The results of this study suggest that
  satisfaction with a particular dimension of
  wellness is correlated strongly with feelings of
  well-being in that particular dimension.
• Participants who demonstrated high activity
  levels within particular dimensions of wellness
  were likely to rate both their well-being within
  and satisfaction with that particular domain
  high.
• Furthermore, these findings indicate that
  satisfaction with a particular dimension of
  wellness has a positive relationship to overall
  life satisfaction.
• In this study, emotional and social well-being
  had a stronger relationship with overall life
  satisfaction than the other dimensions of
  wellness.
• Interestingly, while many participants rated
  their well-being and their satisfaction across
  most dimensions as good or excellent, they
  continued to express a desire for some level of
  help and support. One possible explanation for
  this might be that participants who are most
  interested in wellness view it as a process to be
  maintained rather than a short-term goal.
• Limitations and Future Directions
• The older adults in this study self-selected to
  participate and responded with self-reported
  data. Its likely that this was a motivated,
  confident, and engaged sample which desires to
  pursue opportunities for personal growth. Future
  research could determine if these results can be
  generalized to a wider sample of older adults at
  varying levels of health, self-efficacy, and
  motivation to improve their level of well-being.

Introduction The purpose of this research
project was to develop and pilot test a new
Health and Wellness Assessment tool designed
specifically for older adults. The survey
examines well-being in the six dimensions
physical, emotional, social, intellectual,
spiritual, and professional/ vocational. The
survey also measures readiness to change,
self-efficacy, life satisfaction, and use of
resources for improving wellness. This unique
approach provides targeted and tailored
individual as well as organizational reports and
feedback for goal setting and program planning.
Results Participant Characteristics A total of
259 older adults participated in this survey.
Characteristics Gender 75 female Marital
status 36 married, 34 widowed, 20 divorced
or separated, and 11 never married
Race/Ethnicity 66 Caucasian, 27 Black/African
American, and 7 Hispanic/Latino, Asian, Native
American or other Education 52 had a
bachelors level or higher degree Living
arrangements 53 lived alone, 34 with a spouse,
and 13 with family members or friends 38 lived
in a senior living community.

• Method
• Materials
• The tool was developed and pilot-tested over a
  15-month period, including focus groups conducted
  in senior living and community-based settings. A
  total of 100 items measured the following
  constructs in each of the six dimensions
  wellness activities, readiness to change,
  self-efficacy, social support and satisfaction,
  and life impact.
• Variables
• Dimensional well-being, dimensional
  satisfaction, and overall satisfaction with life
  were measured by single items on a 5-point scale
  from 1 (very poor) to 5 (excellent).
• The wellness activity scales consisted of 4-5
  items that measured activity frequency by
  dimension on a 5-point scale from 1 (never) to 5
  (always).
• The impact each dimension has on satisfaction
  with life was measured on a 5-point scale from 1
  (very negative) to 5 (very positive).
• Desire for help and support was measured on a
  4-point scale from 1 (none) to 4 (a lot).
• Data Collection
• Approximately 1,225 surveys were distributed
  across seven Mather LifeWays locations (three
  Senior Living Residences and four Community
  Cafes). A total of 259 (21) completed surveys
  were returned. Recruiting efforts included
  on-site informational booths and presentations, a
  postcard mailing to Café customers, promotional
  flyers, and staff assistance from each location.
  All participants received a customized Personal
  Wellness Report and Guide, which outlined
  wellness strengths and opportunities for personal
  growth. In addition, an aggregate organizational
  report is being compiled for each pilot test site
  to provide program planners with insight for
  modification or future direction.

• Correlations
• All reported correlations were significant at the
  0.01 level.
• Dimensional ratings of well-being were
  significantly correlated with overall
  satisfaction with life (r .26 - .54). The
  highest correlations with overall satisfaction
  with life were in the emotional (r .54) and
  social (r .52) domains.
• Strong positive correlations were found between
  dimensional ratings of well-being and dimensional
  ratings of satisfaction (Spiritual (r .88),
  Professional/vocational (r .85), Emotional (r
  .84), Social (r .83), and Intellectual (r
  .73)). Only a moderate correlation (r .68) was
  found between rating of overall physical
  well-being and satisfaction with physical
  well-being.
• Moderate correlations were found between
  satisfaction ratings by dimension and the impact
  each dimension has on satisfaction with life
  (Professional/vocational (r .53), Emotional (r
  .50), Social (r .48), Physical (r .47),
  Spiritual (r .43), Intellectual (r .41)).
• Moderate correlations were found between four of
  the six wellness activity scales and the ratings
  of dimensional well-being (Spiritual (r .65),
  Emotional (r .62), Social (r .59),
  Professional/vocational (r .41)).
• Moderate correlations were found between
  wellness activity scales and satisfaction ratings
  in the Emotional (r .59), Spiritual (r .58),
• Social (r .55) dimensions.
• The desire for help and support to improve
  physical and emotional well-being were moderately
  correlated (r .44, .40 respectively) with
  overall satisfaction with life.