University of Rhode Island DigitalCommons@URI Open Access Dissertations 1977 An Empirical Investigation of an Existential Theory as it Appears to the Elderly: The Will to Live Ann M. Varna Garis University of Rhode Island Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/oa_diss Recommended Citation Varna Garis, Ann M., "An Empirical Investigation of an Existential Theory as it Appears to the Elderly: The Will to Live" (1977). Open Access Dissertations. Paper 1114. https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/oa_diss/1114 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@URI. It has been accepted for inclusion in Open Access Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@URI. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. - AN EMPIRICALINVESTIGATION OF AN EXISTENTIALTHEORY AS IT APPLIES TO THE ELDERLY: THE WILL TO LIVE BY ANNM. VARNAGARIS A DISSERTATIONSUBMITTED IN PARTIALFULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTSFOR THE DEGREEOF DOCTOROF PHILOSOPHY IN PSYCHOLOGY UNIVERSITYOF RHODEISLAND 1977 ABSTRACT The purpose of the present study was to investigate the Will to Ltve concept as it applies to the elderly. This was accomplished by exploring the relationship among the variables of Purpose in Life; Locus of Control; Depression; and a self-ratin g Will to Live scale. These are variables which, according to the literature, could be expected to be major components of the Will to Live concept. The subjects for this study were 6J volunteers, ran gin g in a ge from 60 to 95, taken from different housing settin gs, nursing homes; apartments for the elderly; and private homes in the community.