Subjective quality of life of Polish, Polish-immigrant, and Polish-American elderly

This study compared the subjective quality of life of elderly Poles living in Poland, and Polish immigrants and Polish-American ethnics living in Chic ago. The article is a secondary data analysis of a study that replicated an earlier study conducted in Poland. The study uses three measures of qualit y of life used in the earlier study - self assessments of health, initiativ e, and fulfillment of plans and wishes - and develops a composite measure. The results showed that Polish-American ethnic elderly had significantly be tter subjective quality of life than Polish-immigrant elderly, and Polish-i mmigrant elderly had significantly better subjective quality of life than e lderly Poles in Poland. These conclusions lend support to the idea the U.S. -born elderly people and elderly immigrants to the United States have acces s to an American cultural construct of "vital aging." However, immigration is also a risk factor worthy of being added to the traditional "triple jeop ardy.".