Phenomenological demoralization amongst the sub-clinical mizo elderly

The community sample of 400 Mizo participated in the study to examine the relationship between a latent variable termed demoralization and measured variables of stress, anxiety, depression and hopelessness. The participants comprised of 185 males and 215 females between 60 to 101 years of age from Aizawl, the capital city of Mizoram. The participants completed the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Survey (DASS), The Hopelessness Scale (HS), and demographic survey. The analysis revealed applicability of the dependent variables for measurement in the target population. The exploratory factor analysis suggested for the structural equation model for stress, depression, anxiety and hopelessness and one latent variable demoralization that fit the data (CMIN/Df =.940, p =.332, goodness of fit indices (GFI=.99, CFI=1.00, NFI=.99) and RMSEA = 0.00). The findings suggested that, close relationships exist among stress, depression, anxiety, hopelessness and demoralization that is stable across demographic variables. Further, the model explains the relationship between sub-clinical stress, anxiety, depression and hopelessness. The findings contribute to a theoretical framework, which has implications for educational and clinical intervention. The findings will help guide researches examining demoralization as a precursor to sub-clinical stress, anxiety, depression and hopelessness.