Both stroke and depression are major health problems in the elderly. In this study, the prevalence of major depression after stroke was investigated in a well-defined sample of acute stroke patients (n=80), followed up at 3 months, 1 year, 2 and 3 years after the stroke event. Links to biological and psychosocial factors were examined. Hypercortisolism was studied by the dexamethasone suppression test and compared with healthy elderly. Living conditions (including demographic caracteristics, economic resources, health, functional ability, activity/leisure, social network) and life satisfaction were described before and after stroke in relation to a general elderly population. Demographic caracteristics, economic resources, social network and psychiatric morbidity prestroke did not differ from the general elderly population. Already prior to the stroke, patients reported more health problems and lower functional ability in many aspects of daily life, more passive leisure time and a lower global life satisfaction. After stroke, contacts with children were maintained, whilst contacts outside the family declined and remained lower than in the general elderly population. Stroke involved a marked reduction in global life satisfaction. Poor life satisfaction at 1 year remained poor for the entire three years; these stroke victims had a higher frequency of major depression early after stroke. The prevalence of major depression was 25% at the acute stage, 31% at 3 months, decreased to 16% at 1 year, was 19% at 2 years and increased to 29% at 3 years. The most important predictors of immediate major depression were left anterior brain lesion, dysphasia, and living alone. Dependence in self-care ability and loss of social contacts outside the family were the most important predictors at 3 months. From 1 year onwards, loss of social contacts contributed most to depression and at 3 years also cerebral atrophy. Sixty percent of patients with early depression (0-3 months) had recovered at 1 year; those not recovered at 1 year had a high risk of chronicitation. Hypercortisolism as measured by the dexamethasone suppression test was associated with major depression late (3 years) but not early (0-3 months) after stroke. At 3 years, the dexamethasone suppression test had a sensitivity of 70%, a specificity of 97%, a positive predictive value of 88%, a negative predicitive value of 91%, and a diagnostic accuracy of 90%. Nonsuppression of dexamethasone at 3 months was a significant predictor of major depression at 3 years. / <p>Härtill 5 uppsatser</p> / digitalisering@umu

The rapid change within the South African workplace and competitiveness of organisations required employed and unemployed individuals to be trained and retrained as a large number of the South African population is unskilled. In the chemical industry employability of individuals is of extra ordinarily importance to both employer and individual. One of the main focuses of the Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA) is to enable learners through the promotion of employability to enter into learnerships to develop the necessary skills to develop sustainable livelihoods (CHIETA, 2011). There are high expectations of the learnerships system which was implemented during 2001 in South Africa. This system is set as a key strategic component of the National Skills Development Strategy, 2011-2016. Learnership programmes are implemented in South African organisations which is a great platform for employee development. Employees are afforded the opportunity to broaden their knowledge in the studied field and gain the needed skills within the organisation (Department of Labour, 1997). Learnerships are seen as a demand driven formal labour market tool, to address the existing need for critical, scarce - high and intermediate - skills levels. Simultaneously, it is seen as an employment-creation mechanism at the low and intermediate skills levels. This statement is a fundamental principle of a survey done on learnerships (Smith, Jennings, & Solanki, 2005). Researchers concluded that learnership programmes are the ideal for employees to acquire the needed skills to become competent and to provide jobs for the unemployed and in this manner enhance employability (Smith et al., 2005). The main aim of article one was to determine the differences in the levels of the psychological contracts, violation of the psychological contract, learners‟ expectations, employability, life satisfaction and work engagement between individual variables (type of learnership contracts, gender, race, age, date of commencement of learnership, date of completion of learnership). A cross-sectional survey design was used. A total of 237 learners completed the questionnaire. The psychological contract scale, violation of the psychological contract scale, learners‟ expectations scale, employability scale, life satisfaction scale, work engagement scale and biographical scale were administered. The results indicated that a statistically significant difference was obtained for age, date of commencement of learnership and date of completion of learnership, but no relationship exists with type of learnership contract, gender and race. The aim of the second article was to determine the relationship between learners within learnership psychological contract, state of the psychological contract, expectations and violations of psychological contract, employability, work engagement and life satisfaction. Furthermore, the study strives to determine whether violation of the psychological contract, learners‟ expectations and employability could predict life satisfaction of learners. A practically significant relationship with a medium effect exists between violation of the psychological contract, state of psychological contract (negative), and employability (positive). A positive practically significant relationship exists between state of psychological contract and work engagement. No relationship was found between employability, life satisfaction and work engagement. A positive practically significant relationship with a medium effect exists between life satisfaction and work engagement. Employer obligations and employability predict life satisfaction. The state of the psychological contract (trust) and life satisfaction predict work engagement of learners. / MA (Labour Relations Management), North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2014

The overall purpose of this thesis was to identify determinants of quality of life in adults with diabetes mellitus. This thesis consists of two studies. The first study tested a comprehensive model which comprised of personal, medical and lifestyle factors to explain quality of life in adults with type 2 diabetes. The model was tested with two concepts of quality of life: health-related quality of life and life satisfaction. The second study (1) tested the comprehensive model in adults with type 1 diabetes; and, (2) examined the interaction effects of diabetes type (i.e., type 1 diabetes /type 2 diabetes) on significant determinants of quality of life in the combined type 1 and type 2 diabetes group. The findings of this study identified subgroups that may be at risk for impaired quality of life and topics that require further investigation.

Bakgrund: Mjukdelssarkom är en ovanlig cancerform som behandlas med kirurgi, strålbehandling och cytostatika. Dessa behandlingar kan orsaka funktionsnedsättning som påverkar livstillfredsställelsen hos individerna som drabbas. Livstillfredsställelse är den subjektiva upplevelsen av livskvalitet. Syfte: Beskriva hur livstillfredsställelsen påverkats av diagnos, behandling och funktionsnedsättning vid mjukdelssarkom. Metod: Kvalitativ ansats innefattande åtta semistrukturerade intervjuer. Intervjuerna transkriberades före analys med kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultat: Genom analysen framkom ett övergripande tema Vidare i livet. Temat omfattar kategorierna Reaktion vid diagnos, Upplevelse av behandling, Livet efter sjukdom och Må bra Slutsats: Besvär förekommer i vardagen men individerna begränsas inte av dem, de upplever ingen funktionsnedsättning. Livstillfredsställelsen var påverkad under behandlingen. Efter avslutad behandling det vill säga vid tidpunkt för intervjun ansåg forskningspersonerna att deras livstillfredsställelse inte var påverkad. / Background: Soft tissue sarcoma is a rare form of cancer treated with surgery, radiotherapy and cytostatic. These treatments can cause impairment that affects the life satisfaction for those affected. Life satisfaction is the subjective experience of quality of life. Purpose: Describe how life satisfaction has been affected by the diagnosis, treatment and disability of soft tissue sarcoma. Method: Qualitative approach included eight semi structured interviews. The interviews were transcribed before analysis with qualitative content analysis Result: Through the analysis, an overall theme emerged Further in life. The theme covers the categories Reaction in diagnosis, Experience of treatment, Life after illness and Feel good Conclusion: Discomfort occurs in everyday life, but individuals are not restricted by them, they experience no disability. Life satisfaction was affected during treatment. After termination of treatment, ie at the time of the interviews, the researchers felt that their life satisfaction was not affected.

The motivation for subjective well-being research rather than Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is becoming important to the roles of many governments across the globe and so identifying the strongest correlates of subjective well-being is vital as a starting point to informing policies that support subjective well-being. This thesis investigated the correlates of subjective well-being. Chapter 1 introduced the topic and has been divided into two parts: section 1 explores the motivation for subjective well-being research and section 2 presents the conceptual model of subjective well-being. Chapter 2 gave the rationale for the methodological approaches taken to investigate factors that are associated with subjective well-being. Also, the methods chapter presented limitations of the data used. Chapter 3 explored the determinants of subjective well-being in representative samples of nations; and the results obtained in chapter 3 led to three systematic reviews and meta-analyses (Chapter 4, 5 and 6). Chapter 4 conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between income inequality and subjective well-being to test the general assumption that people's subjective well-being can be increased by tackling income inequality and investigated inconsistencies of previous studies reporting a negative, positive or no association between income inequality and subjective well-being. Chapter 5 carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between health status and subjective well-being because the results of the empirical study conducted in chapter 3 suggest that health status is positively associated with subjective well-being. Chapter 6 conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between financial satisfaction and subjective well-being as the results of the empirical study conducted in chapter 3 suggest that financial satisfaction is positively associated with subjective well-being. Chapter 7 discussed the results, highlighted the need for further studies and policy directions and concluded. Taken altogether these studies suggest that: (1) subjective well-being is important to informing policies that support subjective well-being, (2) they might be circumstances where income inequality may not be associated with people's subjective well-being, (3) health status and financial satisfaction are positively associated with subjective well-being and the magnitude of the association is affected by key operational and methodological factors, (4) life satisfaction might be preferred to happiness as a measure of subjective well-being because it may better captures the influence of health status and financial satisfaction, (5) government policies that support subjective well-being measures should consider using self-reported health status and financial satisfaction amongst factors that are correlated with people's subjective well-being, (6) the association between health status and subjective well-being and the link between financial satisfaction and subjective well-being are medium and further research is required to identify other strongest correlates of subjective well-being.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:23:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MariaFMB_DISSERT.pdf: 2675106 bytes, checksum: 7fedfb52699d5ebc7ab0d8f417895e76 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-08-23 / The aging process lived by the Brazilian population concurred to the transformation in the family models, causing difficulties related to the elderly care on the Family environment, a fact that is one of the main reasons for their institutionalization. Facing this scenario, the need of investigating how the elderly lives on the long-term facilities (ILPI) has aroused. In this study, it has been conducted an analysis of the populational aging process, contrasting the Rio Grande do Norte to Brazil and the Northeast Region, between 1980 to 2010. Faced with the realization of this process, and the rising number of long-term facilities for the elderly (ILPI), it was needed to make a rescue of the abiding laws regarding elderly institutionalization, on the scope of Natal, which surged after the 1988 Federal Constitution, checking what were the impacts on the assistance of the institutionalized elderly. Lastly, it were investigated the possible determinants associated with the institutionalization, in Natal-RN, considering the aspects of the family structure, family relationship, economic, health and well being of the elderly. The results showed that Rio Grande do Norte, particularly Natal, follows the national scene, since between 1980 and 2000 its population passed the intermediate level in the process of population aging for, in 2010, to be considered elderly. Throughout this process, it was observed that Natal has been adapting to the federal legislation, through the creation of the municipal policy, City Council and other relevant standards for the elderly, promoting significant changes in ILPI.However, philanthropic institutions needs better resources for their maintenance. In research with the elderly, it was found that although the majority of the elderly have declared themselves satisfied with life, they had indicators of impairment of functional capacity and cognitive, isolated social behavior and depression, affecting the life quality of these elderly. These results reflect the need for greater investment of public power in the drafting, implementation and monitoring of public policies aimed at promoting changes that raise the level of life quality of this segment of the population / O processo de envelhecimento populacional vivenciado pela popula??o brasileira concorreu com as transforma??es nos arranjos familiares, provocando dificuldades quanto aos cuidados ao idoso no ambiente familiar, fato que se constitui como um dos principais motivos para a sua institucionaliza??o. Diante deste cen?rio, surge a necessidade de investigar como vivem os idosos nas institui??es de longa perman?ncia (ILPI). Neste estudo, realizou-se uma an?lise do processo de envelhecimento populacional, contrastando o Rio Grande do Norte com o Brasil e a Regi?o Nordeste, no per?odo de 1980 a 2010. Diante da constata??o deste processo e do crescente aumento das institui??es de longa perman?ncia para idosos, sentiu-se a necessidade de resgatar a legisla??o pertinente a institucionaliza??o do idoso, no ?mbito do munic?pio do Natal, que surgiram a partir da Constitui??o Federal de 1988, verificando quais os impactos na assist?ncia aos idosos institucionalizados. Por ?ltimo, investigaram-se os poss?veis determinantes associados a essa institucionaliza??o, em Natal-RN, considerando os aspectos da estrutura, do conv?vio familiar, econ?micos e da sa?de e bem-estar do idoso. Os resultados desta pesquisa mostram que o Rio Grande do Norte, em particular Natal, segue o cen?rio nacional, visto que entre 1980 e 2000 sua popula??o passou do n?vel intermedi?rio no processo de envelhecimento populacional para, em 2010, ser considerada como popula??o idosa. Ao longo deste processo, observou-se que Natal vem adequando-se ? legisla??o federal, por meio da cria??o da Pol?tica Municipal, do Conselho Municipal e demais normas pertinentes aos idosos, promovendo mudan?as significativas nas ILPI. Contudo, as institui??es filantr?picas carecem de melhores recursos para as suas manuten??es. Na pesquisa com os idosos institucionalizados, detectou-se que embora a maioria dos idosos tenha se declarado satisfeita com a vida , estes apresentaram indicadores de defici?ncia da capacidade funcional e cognitiva, comportamento social isolado e depress?o, comprometendo a qualidade de vida. Estes resultados refletem a necessidade de maiores investimentos do poder p?blico na elabora??o, implanta??o e acompanhamento de pol?ticas p?blicas, visando promover mudan?as que elevem o n?vel da qualidade de vida, deste segmento da popula??o

O Brasil está rapidamente deixando de ser um país jovem. E com o novo desenho da pirâmide etária no nosso país, o tema do envelhecimento tem ocupado cada vez mais espaço nas discussões governamentais e da sociedade civil organizada. As representações sociais do idoso ainda o apresentam como alguém que pouco tem a contribuir com a sociedade. Uma parte dos idosos se apropria deste estigma; outra parte, no entanto, entende que o envelhecimento pode ser satisfatório e encarado de forma positiva. O objetivo do trabalho foi investigar as características de idosos que relatam o envelhecimento como satisfatório. A teoria de desenvolvimento psicossocial de Erik Erikson e suas descobertas sobre o envelhecimento foi a base para as discussões teóricas. A pesquisa foi entabulada sob a perspectiva da Psicologia Positiva. A amostra foi constituída de 186 idosos, com 70 anos ou mais. Foram utilizados os seguintes instrumentos: a) Questionário de Qualificação Sociodemográfica; b) Escalas de Qualidade de Vida (WHOQOL-OLD e BREF), c) Escala de Satisfação de Vida; e, d) Escala de Religiosidade da Universidade DUKE DUREL. A partir da resposta de duas questões abertas constantes do Questionário de Qualificação Sociodemográfica, os participantes foram segmentados em IBV - Idosos de Bem com a Velhice e ICV Idosos em Conflito com a Velhice. Para a segmentação da amostra foram utilizados quatro juízes que opinaram sobre as respostas apresentadas pelos participantes e contribuíram na classificação dos participantes do grupo do IBV e do ICV. Foi utilizado o Coeficiente Kappa para se determinar a confiabilidade entre os avaliadores. Segmentada a amostra, as médias dos dois grupos foram comparadas aplicando-se o teste t-student. Os IBV apresentaram médias estatisticamente significantes ao nível de 5% nas médias de Satisfação de Vida, Qualidade de Vida (escores totais), na faceta Morte e Morrer do WHOQOL-OLD e no Domínio Relações Sociais do WHOQOL-BREF. Das dez áreas investigadas pelo WHOQOL (seis facetas do WHOQOL-OLD e quatro Domínios do WHOQOL-BREF), em apenas uma os ICV apresentaram média superior aos IBV, mas sem significância estatística. Quanto à Religiosidade, os IBV apresentaram média superior apenas na Religiosidade Organizacional. Os IBV praticam mais atividades físicas e de lazer, estão mais envolvidos com trabalho remunerado. Não se constatou diferença quanto à escolaridade, a renda e a classificação econômica entre os IBV e os ICV. Por fim, o IBV foi descrito como aquele que é satisfeito com a vida, apresenta maiores médias de Qualidade de Vida, maneja bem questões ligadas às atividades passadas, presentes e futuras (demonstrando o que Erikson denominava de Integridade), participa ativamente da sociedade, mantém bom nível de relações sociais significativas e apresenta-se preservado no que diz respeito aos aspectos físicos e psicológicos / Brazil is rapidly ceasing to be considered a young country. With the new layout of the age pyramid in our country, the subject on aging has gradually occupied space in governmental discussions and in the organized civil society. The social representations of the elderly still present this individual as someone who has little to contribute to society. Some of the elderly seize this stigma; others, however, believe that aging can be satisfactory and faced in a positive manner. This study aims to investigate the characteristics of the elderly people who report aging as satisfactory. Erik Erikson\'s theory of psychosocial development and his findings on aging was the basis for theoretical discussions. The research was based on the perspective of Positive Psychology. The sample consisted of 186 elderly individuals, aged 70 or older. The following tools were used: a) Sociodemographic Qualification Questionnaire; a) Quality of Life Scales (WHOQOL-OLD and BREF), c) Life Satisfaction Scale; and, d) The Duke University Religion Index (DUREL). Based on the responses to two open questions included in the Sociodemographic Qualification Questionnaire, the participants were segmented into IBV - Elderly Coping Well with Old Age and ICV Elderly in Conflict with Old Age. For the segmentation of the sample, four judges were used and they commented on the responses presented by the participants and contributed to the classification of the respondents into groups IBV or ICV. In order to determine the reliability among the evaluators, the Kappa coefficient was used. After the sample was segmented, the rate of the two groups was compared by applying the t-student test. The IBV group presented statistically significant averages at 5% level in Life Satisfaction, Quality of Life averages (total scores), in the \"Death and Dying\" facet of the WHOQOL-OLD and in the \"Social Relations\" Domain of the WHOQOL-BREF. Of the ten areas investigated by the WHOQOL (six facets of the WHOQOL-OLD and four domains of the WHOQOL-BREF), in only one the ICV group presented a higher average than the IBV group, but there was no statistical significance. Regarding Religiousness, the IBVs presented a higher average only in Organizational Religiosity. IBVs practice more physical and leisure activities and are more involved with paid work. There was no difference in schooling, income or economic classification between the IBVs and the ICVs. Finally, the IBV group was described as being satisfied with life, presenting higher Quality of Life averages, handling well issues related to past, present and future activities (demonstrating what Erikson called Integrity), participating actively in society, maintaining a good level of meaningful social relations and being preserved with respect to the physical and psychological aspects

ABSTRACT
 This diploma thesis deals with whether and, if so, what influence the stress factors have on the life satisfaction of adults. It also focuses on what other aspects are important during the evaluation. The thesis is based on a qualitative research, in which the individuals have given authentic testimonies when evaluating their life satisfaction and conditions, which significantly affect the evaluation. Attention was paid to both negative and positive effects and strategies when coping with difficult situations, trying to find similarities and differences and evaluate substantial factors. The goal also is to show possibilities of achieving a higher level of satisfaction. The merit of the thesis is in honest and comprehensive testimonies of the individuals on this topic and in the possibility to think about one's own life attitude and about the level and limits for reaching life satisfaction in general. KEYWORDS
 Life satisfaction, stress factors, adaptation, resistance, mental balance, mental well-being.

Abstract Fibromyalgia syndrome is associated with a number of symptoms and conditions that can impact extensively on quality of life. These include pain, sleeping problems, fatigue and depression. This research describes the sense of coherence, social support and quality of life of fibromyalgia patients, as well as the changes taking place in these areas over the course of a year. The aim is to generate knowledge that can be used to develop the care and rehabilitation of fibromyalgia patients. The key theoretical and empirical concept used is Sense of Coherence (SOC) based on the theory by Aaron Antonovsky. The data were gathered by means of a questionnaire at the beginning of the rehabilitation and then after approximately 4 and 12 months of rehabilitation. The data were gathered from a total of 169 patients in rehabilitation, 151 of them were involved at all stages. Statistical methods were used to describe and analyse the data. Differences between groups were tested using the t-test and variance analysis, the Mann-Whitney test, the Kruskall-Wallis test and the Chi-square test. Repeat measurements were carried out using the mixed model. The Pearson and Spearman coefficients were used as correlation coefficients. SOC remained fairly stable during the one-year monitoring period, standing at 59 (SD 11) for the whole group at the beginning of the rehabilitation. Social support also remained also stable during the one-year monitoring period. Health-related quality of life (15D) improved in the lowest SOC category. Depression fell over the year, while life satisfaction did not increase significantly. The interaction effect between the four SOC categories and time was statistically significant for sense of coherence and almost significant for fatigue. SOC was higher among those who were satisfied with their life as a whole, with their ability to manage self-care, leisure, vocational and financial situation, sexual life, partnership relations, family life, contacts with friends and acquaintances, health, mental resources and physical fitness. However, no differences in SOC could be seen between those who were satisfied with their vocational life and those who were not. SOC correlated positively with the support received from relatives, health-related quality of life and life satisfaction and negatively with sleep, fatigue, general wellbeing and depression. SOC correlated negatively, but not significantly, with pain. SOC correlated most strongly with depression and to almost the same extent with health-related quality of life. The research provides knowledge regarding the resources and quality of life of fibromyalgia patients who have undergone rehabilitation, and into any changes that occurred in these areas during a one-year process of rehabilitation. / Tiivistelmä Fibromyalgia-oireyhtymään liittyy useita elämän laatuun laajasti vaikuttavia oireita ja vaivoja, kuten kipua, univaikeuksia, uupumusta ja masentuneisuutta. Tämän tutkimuksen tarkoituksena on kuvata fibromyalgiaa sairastavien koherenssintunnetta, sosiaalista tukea ja elämänlaatua ja niissä vuoden aikana tapahtuvia muutoksia. Lisäksi tarkastellaan koherenssintunteen yhteyttä sosiaaliseen tukeen sekä sosiaalisen tuen ja koherenssintunteen yhteyttä elämänlaatuun. Tavoitteena on tuottaa tietoa, jota voidaan käyttää fibromyalgiaa sairastavien hoitotyön ja kuntoutuksen kehittämiseen. Keskeinen teoreettinen ja empiirinen käsite on Aaron Antonovskyn teoriaan pohjautuva koherenssintunne (SOC). Aineisto on koottu kyselylomakkeella kuntoutuksen alussa sekä noin 4 ja 12 kuukauden kuluttua kuntoutuksesta yhteensä 169 kuntoutujalta, joista 151 oli mukana kaikissa vaiheissa. Aineiston kuvaamisessa ja analyysissa käytettiin tilastollisia menetelmiä. Ryhmien välisiä eroja testattiin käyttäen t-testiä ja varianssianalyysiä, Mann-Whitneyn testiä, Kruskall-Wallisin testiä ja Khiin neliötestejä. Toistomittaukset suoritettiin käyttäen lineaarisia sekamalleja. Korrelaatiokertoimena käytettiin Pearsonin tai Spearmanin kertoimia. SOC oli melko pysyvä vuoden seuranta-aikana ollen kuntoutuksen alussa koko ryhmällä 59 (kh. 11). Myös sosiaalinen tuki läheisiltä oli pysyvä vuoden seurannassa. Terveyteen liittyvä elämänlaatu (15D) koheni alimmassa SOC-luokassa. Masentuneisuus väheni vuoden aikana, sen sijaan elämään tyytyväisyys ei merkitsevästi lisääntynyt. Neljän SOC-luokan ja ajan välinen yhdysvaikutus oli tilastollisesti merkitsevä koherenssintunteen ja melkein merkitsevä uupumuksen kohdalla. SOC oli korkeampi sellaisilla, jotka olivat tyytyväisiä elämään, kykyyn huolehtia itsestä, vapaa-aikaan, taloudelliseen tilanteeseen, sukupuolielämään, parisuhteeseen, perhe-elämään, ystävä- ja tuttavasuhteisiin, terveyteen, henkisiin voimavaroihin ja fyysiseen kuntoon, kuin niillä, jotka olivat näihin tyytymättömiä. Sen sijaan SOC ei eronnut työtilanteeseen tyytyväisten ja tyytymättömien välillä. SOC korreloi positiivisesti läheisiltä saatuun tukeen, terveyteen liittyvään elämänlaatuun ja elämään tyytyväisyyteen ja negatiivisesti uneen, uupumukseen, yleisvointiin ja masentuneisuuteen. SOC korreloi negatiivisesti, mutta ei merkitsevästi kipuun. SOC korreloi korkeimmin masentuneisuuden kanssa ja lähes samantasoisesti terveyteen liittyvän elämän laadun kanssa. Tutkimus antaa tietoa kuntoutuksessa olleiden fibromyalgiaa sairastavien voimavaroista ja elämänlaadusta ja niissä tapahtuvista muutoksista vuoden kuntoutusprosessin aikana.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology / Stephen L. Benton / This study explored the relationship between a variety of health behaviors and life satisfaction in college students. University students (N=794) enrolled in a midwestern university during the Fall, 2006 and Spring, 2007 semester, completed an online Health Behavior Assessment designed to measure body mass index (BMI), frequency of physical activity behavior, fruit and vegetable consumption, sleep behavior, alcohol use, frequency of use of stress-management skills, stage of change for physical activity, stage of change for fruit and vegetable consumption, stage of change for frequency of stress-management skills, and life satisfaction. As predicted, significant correlations were found between life satisfaction and BMI, frequency of physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption, and frequency of use of stress- management skills. Students who regularly received 6-8 hours of sleep showed higher levels of life satisfaction. Students in the maintenance stage of change for physical activity behavior and stress-management skill use were found to have higher levels of life satisfaction compared to individuals in earlier stages of change. Results indicated that increased life satisfaction is related to a variety of health behaviors in college students.