J Korean Geriatr Psychiatry.  2016 Apr;20(1):33-37. 10.0000/jkgp.2016.20.1.33.

The Relationship between Temporal Discounting and Well-Being in the Elderly

• Hong SJ
• Chang KJ
• Roh HW
• Noh JS
• Chung YK
• Lim KY
• Hong CH
• Son SJ

• KMID: 2186123
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/jkgp.2016.20.1.33

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
This study aims to examine association of temporal discounting with well-being of Korean community-dwelling elderly.
METHODS
The subjects of this research were 4,373 community-dwelling older persons without dementia. Each subject was administered the questionnaires regarding the socio-demographic characteristics, temporal discounting which was measured using standard questions in which participants were asked to choose between an immediate, smaller payment and a delayed, larger one. Outcome variable is Korean version of the World Health Organization Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5). Statistical analyses including the Pearson's correlation test and logistic regression were performed in this study.
RESULTS
At baseline, temporal discounting was negatively associated with WHO-5 in the Pearson's correlation test (r=-0.04, p=0.006). In a adjusted model for confounding variables, temporal discounting was negatively associated with WHO-5 [odd ratio (95% confidence interval)=0.57 (0.35-0.92), p=0.021].
CONCLUSION
Elderly individual with a higher temporal discounting (which indicates impulsivity) may have a lower quality of life.

Keyword

Elderly; Temporal discounting; Well-being; Quality of life

MeSH Terms

Aged*
Confounding Factors (Epidemiology)
Dementia
Humans
Logistic Models
Quality of Life
World Health Organization