Factors Related to Life Satisfaction of Older Adults at Home: A Focus on Residential Conditions

Abstract

This study examined which residential conditions increase older adults’ life satisfaction at home. We used data from 8903 participants over 65 years old who did not need help in their daily lives from a 2020 survey of older adults conducted by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics, independent sample t-test, Pearson correlation analysis, and hierarchical multiple regression with weights. The final model explained 34.2% of life satisfaction in old age. Residential conditions that increased life satisfaction the most in old age were the community environment (β = 0.16, p < 0.001) and satisfaction with the house (β = 0.15, p < 0.001). Other conditions that significantly affected life satisfaction were safety (β = 0.08, p < 0.001), interaction with neighbors (β = 0.08, p < 0.001), distance from children or relatives (β = 0.08, p < 0.001), frequency and route of public transportation (β = 0.05, p < 0.001), and abundance and distance of green spaces (β = 0.02, p = 0.031). Housing welfare policies should consider these results to increase life satisfaction for an increasingly aging population. Moreover, these data can be used to design age-friendly community environments.

Gender differences in the association between physical frailty and life satisfaction among older adults in India

“…While respondents rate their current life quality, life satisfaction in older ages may be used to appraise overall success in life. 10,12,13 It can be indicative of adaptation to shifts in work, family, and health domains in later life. 14 Life satisfaction may be a particularly valuable measure of overall well-being among older adults.…”

“…15,16 As such, identifying factors contributing to life satisfaction is crucial to crafting policies and programs to improve later life well-being. [11][12][13] Epidemiological evidence finds an association between frailty and life satisfaction. Older adults with higher levels of frailty endure a higher risk of lower life satisfaction (LLS).…”

“…Life satisfaction, a key indicator of later life well‐being, 10,11 accounts for the subjective appraisal of one's life as a whole. While respondents rate their current life quality, life satisfaction in older ages may be used to appraise overall success in life 10,12,13 . It can be indicative of adaptation to shifts in work, family, and health domains in later life 14 .…”

“…Moreover, older adults with higher life satisfaction also are more likely to engage in health‐promoting behaviours 15,16 . As such, identifying factors contributing to life satisfaction is crucial to crafting policies and programs to improve later life well‐being 11–13 …”

Family Networks, Social Networks, and Life Satisfaction of Older Adults in China

“…In addition, the relationship between the family and community environment and life satisfaction in older adults has received widespread academic attention [ 9 , 19 ]. Studies have found that an increase in the breadth and depth of family and social networks can enhance life satisfaction among older adults [ 20 , 21 , 22 ].…”