Healthy, Wealthy, Wise, and Happy? Assessing Age Differences in Evaluative and Emotional Well-Being Among Mature Adults from Five Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Abstract This study assesses the relationship between age and two dimensions of subjective well-being—evaluative and emotional—among mature adults from five low-and middle-income countries. We use data from the World Health Organization’s Study on Global AGEing and Adult Health to contrast the associations of age with subjective well-being when controlling only for gender with the corresponding partial associations when including a richer set of covariates. Adjusting only for gender, we find negative associations of age with evaluative well-being, while the corresponding age gradients for emotional well-being are relatively flat. By contrast, adjusting for further socio-demographic factors results in positive associations of age with both evaluative and emotional well-being. Oaxaca-Blinder decompositions allow us to explore the roles of two factors to account for any unadjusted age differences in subjective well-being: age-group differences in individual characteristics and life circumstances, and age-specific associations of individual characteristics and life circumstances with subjective well-being. While adverse circumstances such as poor health and low income contribute to lower levels of evaluative well-being among older adults, age per se is—ceteris paribus—positively associated with subjective well-being. Even in poorer countries, older age does not need to be a time of low subjective well-being. Policies aimed at preserving income and limiting or compensating old-age disability appear to be key for maintaining subjective well-being among older adults.

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Associations Between Physical Function and Subjective Well-Being in Older Adults From Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Results From the Study on Global AGEing and Adult Health (SAGE)

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1123/japa.2016-0359 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 27 (2) ◽

pp. 213-221 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Theresa E. Gildner ◽

J. Josh Snodgrass ◽

Clare Evans ◽

Paul Kowal

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Physical Function ◽

Well Being ◽

Adult Health ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Global Ageing ◽

Low And Middle Income

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407 - Living through the pandemic as an older person: Long-term psychological impacts in low- and middle-income countries

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610221001666 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 33 (S1) ◽

pp. 33-33

Author(s):

Clarissa Giebel ◽

Bwire Ivan ◽

Maria Isabel Zuluaga ◽

Suresh Kumar ◽

Mark Gabbay ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Well Being ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Health And Social Care ◽

The Impact ◽

Low And Middle Income

Background:The pandemic has put a huge strain on people’s mental health, with varying restrictions affecting people’s lives. Little is known how the pandemic affects older adults’ mental health, particularly those living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where restrictions are affecting people’s access to basic necessities. Thus, the aim of this 3-country study was to understand the long- term impacts of the pandemic on the mental well-being of older adults with and without dementia in LMICs.Methods:We are collecting 30 baseline and 15 follow-up interviews with older adults (aged 60+), people with dementia, and family carers in Colombia, India, and Uganda, as well as a baseline and follow-up focus group with health and social are professionals in each country. Interviews are conducted remotely over the phone due to pandemic restrictions, with data collection taking place between March and July 2021. Transcripts are translated into English before being analysed using thematic analysis.Results:To date, we have completed close to 90 baseline interviews and 3 focus groups with health and social care professionals. Analysis is ongoing, but findings are capturing the detrimental second wave in India and follow-up interviews will capture the longitudinal impacts on mental health.Conclusions:Whilst vaccines are starting to be rolled out in LMICs, albeit at different rates, the virus will likely take much longer to be somewhat managed in LMICs. This leaves more room for people’s physical as well as mental health to be impacted by the restrictions, and with often limited mental health service coverage, it is all the more important o understand the impact of the pandemic on older people’s mental health.

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Perceived Income Adequacy and Well-being Among Older Adults in Six Low- and Middle-Income Countries

The Journals of Gerontology Series B ◽

10.1093/geronb/gbw145 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 74 (3) ◽

pp. 516-525 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Theresa E Gildner ◽

Melissa A Liebert ◽

Benjamin D Capistrant ◽

Catherine D’Este ◽

J Josh Snodgrass ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Well Being ◽

World Health ◽

Adult Health ◽

Older Individuals ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Income Adequacy ◽

Perceived Income Adequacy ◽

Low And Middle Income

Abstract Objectives Perceived income adequacy is positively associated with self-rated health (SRH) and quality of life (QOL) among adults in higher-income countries. Additionally, older individuals often report higher levels of income adequacy. However, it is unclear if these associations, documented primarily in high-income countries, are also evident across economically and culturally distinctive low- and middle-income countries. Methods Data were drawn from the World Health Organization’s Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE), a study of adults aged 50 years or older in China, Ghana, India, Mexico, the Russian Federation, and South Africa. Smaller samples of younger adults (18–49 years) were included for comparison purposes. Participants reported income adequacy, SRH, and QOL. Associations between age and income adequacy and between income adequacy and SRH/QOL were examined using country-specific logistic regression analysis. Results Older adults in China and Russia were more likely to report better income adequacy than their 18- to 49-year-old counterparts; however, the opposite was observed in Ghana and India. SRH and QOL improved as income adequacy increased in all countries. Discussion As expected, income adequacy was correlated with SRH and QOL. However, the relationship between age and income adequacy varied cross-culturally, potentially due to differences in familial and governmental financial support.

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Assessing and decomposing gender differences in evaluative and emotional well-being among older adults in the developing world

Review of Economics of the Household ◽

10.1007/s11150-020-09521-y ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Clémence Kieny ◽

Gabriela Flores ◽

Jürgen Maurer

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Gender Differences ◽

Older Women ◽

Gender Gap ◽

Well Being ◽

Individual Characteristics ◽

World Health ◽

Adult Health ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Life Circumstances

Abstract Using data from the World Health Organization’s Study on Global AGEing and Adult Health (SAGE), we evaluate the relationship between gender and several measures of subjective well-being among older adults in developing countries. Furthermore, we contrast the partial associations of gender with these well-being measures when controlling only for age (age-adjusted analyses) with the corresponding partial associations when including individual characteristics and life circumstances as controls (multivariable-adjusted analyses). While age-adjusted analyses reveal that older women have lower levels of evaluative well-being than older men, multivariable-adjusted analyses show that - given similar life circumstances - they have equal or slightly higher evaluative well-being. This suggests that the gender gap in evaluative well-being may be explained by less favorable life circumstances of older women. Age-adjusted results also show that older women tend to have lower levels of emotional well-being. However, we find no reversal, but merely an attenuation of these gender differences in emotional well-being when controlling for additional individual characteristics and life circumstances. Finally, we perform Oaxaca-Blinder decompositions to disaggregate the gender gaps in well-being into explained parts - attributable to gender differences in individual characteristics and life circumstances - and unexplained parts - related to gender differences in the association between life circumstances and subjective well-being. These results further corroborate our findings that women tend to be disadvantaged in terms of both evaluative and emotional well-being, and that this disadvantage is mostly driven by observable factors related to the explained part of the decomposition, such as gender differences in socio-economic status and health.

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Moving more, ageing happy: findings from six low- and middle-income countries

Age and Ageing ◽

10.1093/ageing/afaa137 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Mireia Felez-Nobrega ◽

Josep Maria Haro ◽

Brendon Stubbs ◽

Lee Smith ◽

Ai Koyanagi

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Well Being ◽

Influential Factors ◽

Health Study ◽

Older Population ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Activity Promotion ◽

Low And Middle Income

Abstract Background low levels of well-being (including happiness) in the older population are major global concern given rapid population ageing especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Physical activity may increase levels of happiness, but data on the older population are scarce, while there are no data from LMICs. Objective we investigated the relationship between physical activity and happiness, and the influential factors in this association among older adults employing nationally representative datasets from six LMICs. Methods community-based cross-sectional data from the Global Ageing and Adult Health study were analysed. Physical activity was assessed with the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. Participants were grouped into those who do and do not meet physical activity recommendations. Happiness was assessed with a cross-culturally validated single-item question (range 0–4) with higher scores indicating higher levels of happiness. Multivariable ordinal logistic regression and mediation analyses were performed. Results the sample included 14,585 adults aged ≥65 years (mean age = 72.6 ± SD 11.4 years; 55% female). After adjusting for multiple confounders, meeting physical activity guidelines was positively associated with more happiness (fully adjusted model, odds ratio = 1.27; 95% confidence interval = 1.04–1.54). The physical activity–happiness association was largely explained by difficulties in mobility, cognitive impairment, disability and social cohesion, which explained ≥20% of the association. Conclusions meeting recommended physical activity levels was positively linked with happiness in older adults from LMICs. Longitudinal and interventional studies among older people in LMICs are warranted to assess directionality and the potential for physical activity promotion to improve mental well-being in this population.

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Social capital is associated with improved subjective well-being of older adults with chronic non-communicable disease in six low- and middle-income countries

Globalization and Health ◽

10.1186/s12992-019-0538-y ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Aaron K. Christian ◽

Olutobi Adekunle Sanuade ◽

Michael Adu Okyere ◽

Kafui Adjaye-Gbewonyo

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Capital ◽

Chronic Diseases ◽

Chronic Conditions ◽

Chronic Condition ◽

Well Being ◽

Multiple Chronic Conditions ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries

Abstract Background Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are increasingly contributing to the morbidity and mortality burden of low and-middle income countries (LMIC). Social capital, particularly participation has been considered as a possible protective factor in the prevention and management of chronic conditions. It is also largely shown to have a negative effect on the well-being of patients. The current discourse on the well-being of individuals with NCDs is however focused more on a comparison with those with no NCDs without considering the difference between individuals with one chronic condition versus those with multiple chronic conditions (MCC). Method and objective We employed a multinomial logit model to examine the effect of social capital, particularly social participation, on the subjective well-being (SWB) of older adults with single chronic condition and MCC in six LMIC. Findings Social capital was associated with increased subjective well-being of adults in all the six countries. The positive association between social capital and subjective well-being was higher for those with a single chronic condition than those with multiple chronic conditions in India and South Africa. Conversely, an increase in the likelihood of having higher subjective well-being as social capital increased was greater for those with multiple chronic conditions compared to those with a single chronic condition in Ghana. Discussion The findings suggest that improving the social capital of older adults with chronic diseases could potentially improve their subjective well-being. This study, therefore, provides valuable insights into potential social determinants of subjective well-being of older adults with chronic diseases in six different countries undergoing transition. Additional research is needed to determine if these factors do in fact have causal effects on SWB in these populations.

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Inequality and Life Satisfaction in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: The Role of Opportunity

Societies ◽

10.3390/soc9020037 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 37

Author(s):

Teresa Maria García-Muñoz ◽

Juliette Milgram-Baleix ◽

Omar Odeh-Odeh

Keyword(s):

Life Satisfaction ◽

Income Inequality ◽

Multilevel Models ◽

Well Being ◽

Political Freedom ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

World Value Survey ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Low And Middle Income

This study delves into the relationship between income inequality and subjective well-being by gauging the role played by opportunities at the country level. Using data from the World Value Survey, we estimate multilevel models to explain cross-country differences in individuals’ life satisfaction. Opportunity and inequality exert a significant effect per se on life satisfaction, and their joint effect explains the puzzling positive relationship between income inequality and life satisfaction in low- and middle-income countries. Income inequalities reduce the well-being of individuals if opportunities are low, but inequality is not relevant for life satisfaction if opportunities in the country are high. Among the aspects of opportunity that really matter, we show that inclusiveness and access to advanced education play a more major role than political freedom or personal rights. Results apply for different social, income, and education groups.

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Social Protection, Adolescent Well-Being, and Development in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

10.1093/oso/9780190847128.003.0016 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Suman Verma

Keyword(s):

Social Inclusion ◽

Social Protection ◽

Well Being ◽

Middle Income ◽

Developmental Potential ◽

Goods And Services ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Social Protection Systems ◽

Cycle Of Poverty ◽

Low And Middle Income

Effective social protection policies are crucial to realizing adolescents’ rights, ensuring their well-being, breaking the cycle of poverty and vulnerability, and helping them realize their full developmental potential. Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have extended social security coverage to ensure basic protections—while continuing to develop social protection systems. Social protection for LMIC adolescents in the context of gross violations of their basic rights is examined. Prevalence, consequences of protection rights violations, and the role and impact of social protection programs in ensuring enhanced opportunities for development and well-being among young people are discussed. Results demonstrate direct impacts (e.g., increased income, consumption, goods and services access; greater social inclusion; reduced household stress). LMICs need integrated social protection policy and program expansion if the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is to be realized. With adolescent-centered policies and investments, governments can help adolescents realize their rights to a fulfilling and productive life.

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