Life satisfaction and depressive symptoms of mentally active older adults in Poland: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background For older adults, life satisfaction and depressive symptoms are related to quality of life. In this group of society, life satisfaction is particularly associated with the emotional area. The notion of life satisfaction is related to many factors, such as personality traits, moods and various life events, and poses challenges in various aspects of everyday life. Given that mental health is one of the determinants of the quality of life of older adults, it is reasonable to conduct research among this growing group of the population. The aim of this study was to assess life satisfaction and depressive symptoms in mentally active older adults in Poland. Methods The study covered 125 attendees at the University of Healthy Senior (UHS) and 125 auditing students at the University of Psychogeriatric Prophylaxis (UPP), organised by the Faculty of Health Sciences at the Medical University of Bialystok, of whom 78.3% were female and 21.7% male. The study was conducted using four standardised scales: the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Beck Depression Inventory, Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results Seniors who participated in the study were satisfied with their lives; the average SWLS score was 23 points. Men rated their level of satisfaction higher than women: the median score on the SWLS was 26 points for men and 23 points for women. Life satisfaction and mental disorders did not differ on the basis of sex, age, or education (the type of place of education attended). As the level of depression increased, life satisfaction decreased. Statistically significant correlations of average strength were found between the point values of the four measures of depression under consideration and were evenly distributed from 0.57 to 0.69. Conclusions The high level of life satisfaction and a low level of mental disorders should be maintained in this population, and additional educational activities should be organised among seniors on a large scale. There were no differences in the distribution of psychometric measure scores among the three compared age groups of respondents in this study. Each of the questionnaires used measured of different aspects of depressive conditions, and it is worth using them in parallel rather than interchangeably.

Does the duration of postmenopausal osteoporosis affect life quality and satisfaction?

“…The mean SWLS value similar to ours was published by Buliński et al in a study involving 312 people representing a healthy Polish population aged over 60 years [13]. Also in the recently published study by Van Damme-Ostapowicz K et al involving elderly people in Białystok, the level of life satisfaction among women was moderate [11].…”

“…Initially, this scale was used in patients with osteoporosis with vertebral fractures, then, due to its universal nature, it was also used in patients with low bone mineral density measured in the lumbar spine, with and without vertebral fractures [10]. Mental health is one of the determinants of the quality of life in the elderly, therefore it is justified to conduct research among this growing group of the population [11].…”

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

“…Life satisfaction is the subjective evaluation of one’s life as a whole. It refers to the degree to which one feels that life is rich, meaningful, or valued compared to the standard of life being lived [ 4 , 5 ]. The higher the life satisfaction, the better the individual adjusts to it [ 6 ].…”

Cognition is a Critical Vital Sign for Older Adults: The Need for Early Detection of Cognitive Impairment is Now

“…Studies of the “oldest old” demonstrate this reality and point to important health and lifestyle factors that may have an impact on the onset and trajectory of cognitive impairment (Duarte et al, 2017; Krivanek et al, 2021; Zeng et al, 2017). Moreover, the majority of older adults report feeling happy and satisfied with life as they age (Jeste et al, 2013; Van Damme-Ostapowicz et al, 2021). Thus, public health campaigns highlighting these facts about cognitive health and positive aspects of aging may help debunk the myth that cognitive impairment is a “normal” part of growing old.…”