This study compared the subjective quality of life of elderly Poles living in Poland, and Polish immigrants and Polish-American ethnics living in Chicago. The article is a secondary data analysis of a study that replicated an earlier study conducted in Poland. The study uses three measures of quality of life used in the earlier study - self assessments of health, initiative, and fulfillment of plans and wishes - and develops a composite measure. The results showed that Polish-American ethnic elderly had significantly better subjective quality of life than Polish-immigrant elderly, and Polish-immigrant elderly had significantly better subjective quality of life than elderly Poles in Poland. These conclusions lend support to the idea the U.S.-born elderly people and elderly immigrants to the United States have access to an American cultural construct of 'vital aging.' However, immigration is also a risk factor worthy of being added to the traditional 'triple jeopardy'.

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Data Interpretation, Statistical immigration human middle aged aging Chicago Ethnic Groups Poland ethnic group Aged Self Efficacy quality of life United States Humans male Acculturation Aged, 80 and over Socioeconomic Factors female scoring system Article Questionnaires adult Emigration and Immigration attitude to health