scholarly journals Evidence on the Bidirectional Relationship Between Health and Life Satisfaction in Older Adults

Author(s):  
Darío Moreno-Agostino ◽  
Francisco José Abad ◽  
Francisco Félix Caballero

AbstractPrevious research on health and life satisfaction in older adults has suggested a bidirectional relationship. However, most evidence either is based on cross-sectional data, being unsuitable for inferring any directionality on the results, or disregards the within-person stability of both variables over time, thus providing potentially biased results. We analysed data from 11,667 older adults interviewed between 2008 and 2016 within the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. A health measure including self-reported and measured tests on cognitive and physical performance was computed using a Bayesian multilevel item-response theory approach. Life satisfaction was assessed with the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Cross-lagged models using a Structural Equation Modelling approach were used to analyse the longitudinal interrelation between health and life satisfaction. Models accounting and not accounting for the within-person stability in the measures were computed. Additional sensitivity models were ran using an exclusively self-reported measure of health. Health and life satisfaction were significant longitudinal predictors of one another only when the within-person stability was not considered. The effect of life satisfaction on health became negligible once that stability was modelled. The impact of not accounting for within-person stability was larger when health was measured exclusively with self-reported information. Our study suggests that health and life satisfaction are not bidirectionally related in older adults, but only health predicts a better life satisfaction over time. Thus, policies aimed at fostering older adults’ life satisfaction by focusing on health enhancement and maintenance may be fruitful, whereas the opposite may not.

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Lei Shao ◽  
Guoliang Yu ◽  
Denghao Zhang

ABSTRACT Objectives: Depression is prevalent among older persons, which seriously threatens their life satisfaction. This study aimed to explore the internal mechanisms by which depression influences life satisfaction among the elderly, as well as the mediating and moderating effects of ostracism and economic income, respectively, in a sample of rural older adults across China. Design: This was a cross-sectional survey conducted as part of the project “Thousands of People and Hundreds of Villages (2019).” Setting: Participants were rural older adults from 31 provincial-level administrative units across China. Participants: The sample composed of 1,754 participants aged 60 years and over. Measurements: Depression was assessed with the depression subscale of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales, life satisfaction with the Satisfaction with Life Scale, ostracism with the Ostracism Experience Scale (OES), and economic income and other control variables with related demographic scales. Moderation and mediation analyses were performed using the regression-based approach as conducted by Hayes (2013). Results: Depression negatively predicted life satisfaction among the elderly. Ostracism played a partially mediating role between depression and life satisfaction. Economic income moderated the effect of depression and ostracism on life satisfaction: High economic income weakened the negative effect of depression on life satisfaction and enhanced the negative effect of ostracism on life satisfaction. Conclusion: Improving depressed elderly people’s interpersonal relationships and financial support could improve their life satisfaction.


2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 329-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Restria Fauziana ◽  
Rajeswari Sambasivam ◽  
Janhavi Ajit Vaingankar ◽  
Edimansyah Abdin ◽  
Hui Lin Ong ◽  
...  

Background: Satisfaction with life is recognized to be a factor in alleviating burden in stressful caregiving duties. However, the mechanism underlying this relationship is indistinct. Positive aspects of caregiving (PAC) may help to regulate caregiving burden among caregivers of older adults. The study aims to examine whether positive caregiving characteristics mediate the effect between satisfaction with life and burden of care. Methods: Participants were 285 caregivers of older adults (aged 60 and above) in Singapore and were recruited in a cross-sectional, self-report study (mean [M] = 47.0 years; 64.6% females). Measures included in the study were the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), Positive Aspects of Caregiving (PAC), and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Mediation analyses were used to study the indirect effects of life satisfaction on caregiver burden through features of PAC. Results: Mean scores for the ZBI, PAC, and SWLS scales were M = 23.15 (standard deviation [SD] = 15.98), M = 34.55 (SD = 8.19), and M = 23.56 (SD = 6.62) respectively. Results from the mediation analysis revealed that the association between life satisfaction and caregiving burden was significantly mediated by the PAC ( P < .001). Discussion: Positive aspects of caregiving may be a mechanism that links satisfaction with life and caregiver burden. Findings may represent attempts to manage caregiving duties as well as maintaining a positive attitude toward their responsibilities.


2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 555-563 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veljko Jovanović

Abstract. The present research aimed at examining measurement invariance of the Serbian version of the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) across age, gender, and time. A total sample in Study 1 consisted of 2,595 participants from Serbia, with a mean age of 23.79 years (age range: 14–55 years). The final sample in Study 2 included 333 Serbian undergraduate students ( Mage = 20.81; age range: 20–27 years), who completed the SWLS over periods of 6 and 18 months after the initial assessment. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported the modified unidimensional model of the SWLS, with correlated residuals of items 4 and 5 tapping past satisfaction. The results of the multigroup confirmatory factor analysis supported the full scalar invariance across gender and over time and partial scalar invariance across age. Latent mean comparisons revealed that women reported higher life satisfaction than men. Additionally, adolescents reported higher life satisfaction than students and adults, with adults showing the lowest life satisfaction. Our findings indicate that the SWLS allows meaningful comparisons in life satisfaction across age, gender, and over time.


2020 ◽  
pp. 0192513X2092621
Author(s):  
Mengting Li ◽  
Yaling Luo ◽  
Penghui Li

Intergenerational solidarity plays a significant role in older adults’ psychological well-being, but it remains unclear whether the influence would vary by distance. This study aims to examine the moderating role of geographical proximity between intergenerational solidarity and life satisfaction. We interviewed 1,015 rural older adults in Sichuan, China. Life satisfaction was measured by Satisfaction with Life Scale. Five of the six dimensions of intergenerational solidarity were assessed: structural (geographical proximity), associational (contact frequency), functional (support exchange), affectual (emotional closeness), and normative (filial obligation). Multiple regression with interaction term was used. We found the effect of intergenerational solidarity (except associational solidarity) on life satisfaction was strongest for older adults with children living in the same city. Gender differences existed in the moderating effect of parent–child distance on the relationship between intergenerational solidarity and life satisfaction. Social services could focus on older adults with interprovincial migrant children and protect their well-being.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-25
Author(s):  
Marie Baeriswyl ◽  
Michel Oris

Abstract This paper examines the associations between social participation and individual life satisfaction among older adults. It specifically considers the diversity of the practices and social inequalities among this population. For analyses, we used a large survey of individuals of 65 years and older conducted in 2011 in Switzerland (N = 2,727). The first set of linear regression analyses examines Diener's Satisfaction with Life Scale and its association with various indicators of social participation. While the second set of logistic regression addresses the issue of social inequalities by evaluating the impacts of gender, age group, region and education on social participation indicators that are significantly associated with the satisfaction with life score. Our results stressed the importance of combining multiple forms of participation for life satisfaction and shows that some forms are particularly meaningful: in particular, the involvement in associations, visitation of family or visitation of friends/acquaintances and church attendance. When inequalities among older adults are considered, having rich and varied social participation, being involved in associations and maintaining private sociability with non-kin appear more elitist. While institutionalised and/or private sociability types of participation appear particularly significant for older adults’ life satisfaction, the most traditional integration forms – i.e. family and religions – are crucial for the more vulnerable. Implications for active ageing was equally discussed as well.


2021 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-123
Author(s):  
Diena Dwidienawati ◽  
David Tjahjana ◽  
Dyah Gandasari ◽  
M. Faisal

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is on human health and other aspects of human life. The government's most common action to prevent the spread of the infection is mobility restriction. The implication of this mobility restriction is the limitation of social activities can be done. Mobility restriction was implemented in Jakarta and its surrounding cities and impacted more than 20 million people. The previous study showed that mobility restriction impacted people's happiness and life satisfaction. After one year of COVID-19 measure implementation, is the adaption effect applied? This study aims to see whether, after one year of the COVID-19 pandemic, people are starting to adapt, and their well-being level is improving compared to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey was conducted in February - March 2021. Happiness and satisfaction with life were measured using the Subjective Happiness Scale and Satisfaction with Life Scale. The reliability and validity of measures were analyzed with SPSS. The study reveals that the participant's happiness level was only slightly happy, and the level of satisfaction was only slightly satisfied. The participants claim that their happiness has deteriorated during mobility restriction (58%). Fifty-eight percent felt their satisfaction has deteriorated. The student's group is shown as the most impacted group in their happiness and life satisfaction scale.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorea Azpiazu Izaguirre ◽  
Arantzazu Rodríguez Fernández ◽  
Eider Goñi Palacios

Adolescence is a stage characterized by many biological and psychosocial changes, all of which may result in a decrease in subjective well-being. It is therefore necessary to identify those factors that contribute to increased life satisfaction, in order to promote positive development among young people. The aim of this study is to examine the dynamics of a set of variables that contribute to life satisfaction. A total of 1,188 adolescents (aged between 12 and 16 years) completed the Perceived Social Support from Family and Friends and Perception of the School Environment Questionnaires, the Trait Meta Mood Scale (TMMS), Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale-10 (CD-RISC), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) for social support, emotion regulation, resilience, and life satisfaction. By applying structural equation modeling (SEM), the results reveal a direct prediction of family support, emotion regulation, and resilience on life satisfaction. Support from friends and emotion regulation was also found to explain resilience, and support from family and teachers was found to predict emotion regulation. In conclusion, emotion regulation and social support were found to indirectly affect life satisfaction among adolescents through resilience. The theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 487-491
Author(s):  
Uzma Zahid

The aim of this study was to assess career aspiration and its three subscales (leadership, achievement, educational) and their relationship with life-satisfaction in final year medical school students of both genders. This cross-sectional study was carried out in final year students of a medical college in Rawalpindi,Pakistan using 24 items revised English Version of Career Aspiration Scale (CAS) and 5 items Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). This study was conducted on total 88 final year medical school students, among them 44 were males and 44 were females. Findings show significant correlation of career aspiration with lifesatisfaction, as well as of its educational subscale and life satisfaction. There was a non-significant correlation of achievement and leadership subscales of career aspiration with life-satisfaction. Medical students who are more aspired towards their career seem to be more satisfied in their life. Moreover, medical students were more interested in getting more and more education but there is lack of aptitude towards achievement and leadership, signifying the need of mentoring amongst medical students. Practical steps should be taken to develop achievement and leadership aspects of medical students, which can ultimately enhance their career aspirations.


Author(s):  
Patrik Hellström ◽  
Kristofer Årestedt ◽  
Johan Israelsson

Abstract Background Self-reported health and life satisfaction are considered important outcomes in people surviving cardiac arrest. However, most previous studies have reported limited aspects on health, often based on composite scores, and few studies have focused on life satisfaction. Investigating health aspects with a broad and detailed perspective is important to increase the knowledge of life after cardiac arrest from the perspective of survivors. In addition, the knowledge of potential differences in health among survivors related to place of arrest (in-hospital cardiac arrest; IHCA or out-of-hospital cardiac arrest; OHCA) is scarce. The aim was to describe and compare self-reported health and life satisfaction in IHCA and OHCA survivors.  Methods This observational cross-sectional study included adult cardiac arrest survivors six months after resuscitation, treated at five Swedish hospitals between 2013 and 2018. Participants received a study specific questionnaire including Health Index (HI), EQ-5D 5 Levels (EQ-5D-5L), Minimal Insomnia Sleeping Scale (MISS), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). In order to present characteristics descriptive statistics were applied. The Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test or Fishers’ exact test were used to compare differences in self-reported health and life satisfaction between in-hospital- and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors Results In total, 212 survivors participated. Based on scale scores and general measures, the median scores of health and life satisfaction among survivors were high: HI total = 29, EQ VAS = 80, and SWLS = 20. According to HI, most problems were reported for tiredness (37.3 %) and strength (26.4 %), while pain/discomfort (57.5 %) and anxiety/depression (42.5 %) where most common according to EQ-5D-5L. Except for EQ-5D-5L mobility (p = 0.023), MSPSS significant other (p = 0.036), and MSPSS family (p = 0.043), no health differences in relation to place of arrest were identified. Conclusions Although general health and life satisfaction were good among cardiac arrest survivors, several prevalent health problems were reported regardless of place of arrest. To achieve an improved understanding of health in cardiac arrest survivors, it is important to assess specific symptoms as a complement to composite scores of general, physical, emotional, and social health.


2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 318
Author(s):  
Hatice Kumcağız

<p>The study aims at examining whether life satisfaction of pregnant women is predicted by their stress coping styles, being understood/not understood by their husbands, and intentional/unintentional conception. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 260 pregnant women living in two districts of Province Samsun who had self-reportedly no psychiatric problems. Data collection tools used in the study include a personal information form to determine sociodemographic characteristics of pregnant women, the Ways of Coping Questionnaire to determine stress coping styles, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale to determine level of life satisfaction. As the assumption of normality was not met (p&lt;0.05), the use of non-parametric tests was considered necessary; and thus the study used Spearman's rank correlation coefficient to find the relationship between two variables, and the Mann–Whitney U test to test whether there is a significant difference between two variables. A significant negative correlation was found between life satisfaction and submissive and helpless coping styles which are the subscales of the Satisfaction with Life Scale. The study found that life satisfaction of pregnant women was predicted by their stress coping styles, being understood/not understood by their husbands, and intentional/unintentional conception.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Özet</strong></p><p>Bu araştırmanın amacı gebelerin stresle baş etme tarzlarının, eşleri tarafından anlaşılma /anlaşılmama ve isteyerek gebe kalma/kalmama gibi durumların yaşam doyumlarını ne ölçüde yordadığını belirlemektir. Araştırma kesitsel tipte tarama modelinde desenlenmiştir. Araştırmanın verileri Samsun ilinin iki ilçesinde yaşayan, kendi ifadesine göre herhangi bir psikiyatrik sorunu olmayan 260 gebeden toplanmıştır. Verilerin analizinde tanımlayıcı istatistiksel yöntemler kullanılmıştır. Verilerin değerlendirilmesinde (p&lt;0.05) normallik şartı sağlanmadığı için parametrik olmayan testlerden; iki değişken arasındaki ilişkiyi bulabilmek için Spearman Brown Sıra Farkları korelasyon testi ve iki durum arasında anlamlı fark olup olmadığını test etmek için de Mann-Whitney U testi kullanılmıştır. Araştırmadan elde edilen bulgulara göre, stresle başa çıkma tarzları ölçeğinin alt boyutlarından çaresiz yaklaşım ve boyun eğici yaklaşım ile yaşam doyumu arasında negatif yönde anlamlı düzeyde yordamaktadır. Araştırma bulguları ilgili literatür eşliğinde tartışılmış ve daha sonra gerçekleştirilecek araştırmalara yönelik öneriler geliştirilmiştir.</p>


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