Objectives: This research aims to examine the components of Rowe and Kahn's model of successful aging as applied to the Thai population who are categorized as: young-old (60-69), old-old (70-79), and oldest-old (80 and over). Method: The study is based on the Survey of Older Persons in Thailand of the National Statistical Office, 2011 (n = 24,433). Confirmatory Factor Analysis is used to test whether Rowe and Kahn's model, which comprises three domains -avoiding disease and disability, maintaining physical and cognitive functioning, and continuing engagement with life, is confirmed by these data. Multiple group analysis is performed to determine factor loading differences among age groups. Results: Rowe and Kahn's model has a good statistical fit when applied to data of the current study. Factor loadings for three age groups is statistically different (p<0.001). Of the three domains, continuing engagement with life is the domain most strongly associated with successful aging, particularly among the old-old and the oldest-old. Implications: Programs to support health and social engagement should be promoted and enhancing active engagement should be a priority since older Thai people have low levels of social participation.
Background The fact that housing can play a critical role in maintaining the health and independence related to happiness of the older population has been studied in more developed countries. However, research on the effect of housing conditions on happiness is rare in less developed countries. This study aimed to construct and test a structural equation model describing the structural relationship among personal aspects (living alone and physical disability), in-home environment, and happiness, controlling for other generally-acknowledged determinants such as age, gender, marital status, education and income, among older adults in Thailand. Methods The data on the population age 75 years or over were extracted from the 2017 Survey of Older Persons in Thailand, carried out by the Thai National Statistical Office (n = 7,829). Data were analyzed using AMOS Version 18. Results The median age of the sample population was 79. Almost 60 percent were women. About one in six (16.7 percent) lived alone and three out of five had no physical disability. Housing conditions, particularly in the sleeping place and toilet/bathroom needed to be improved. The structural equation model showed a good fit with the data, χ2 = 302.397 (p < .001), goodness of fit index (GFI) = .964, normed fit index (NFI) = .959, comparative fit index (CFI) = .964, and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = .10. In-home environment had a significantly positive effect on older adults’ happiness (path coefficient = .235, p < .001). Physical disability had a significantly positive effect on in-home environment (path coefficient = .113, p < .001). Conclusions Interventions to improve happiness of older adults, particularly those with physical disability, should aim to adapt their housing, including sleeping place and toilet design.
BackgroundThe fact that housing can play a critical role in maintaining the health and independence related to happiness of the older population has been studied in more developed countries. However, research on the effect of housing conditions on happiness is rare in less developed countries. This study aimed to construct and test a structural equation model describing the structural relationship among personal aspects (living alone and physical disability), in-home environment (sleeping place and toilet/bathroom), and happiness among older adults in Thailand.MethodThe data on the population age 75 years or over were extracted from the 2017 national Survey of Older Persons in Thailand (n = 7,829).ResultsThe median age of the sample population was 79. Almost 60 percent were women. The structural equation model showed a good fit with the data. Living alone did not directly influence happiness. Physical disability had a statistically significant negative direct effect on happiness. In-home environment not only had an impact on happiness directly, but also moderated the relationship between physical disability and happiness.ConclusionThe research suggested that interventions to improve happiness of older adults, particularly those with physical disability, should aim to adapt their housing, including sleeping place and toilet design.
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