Life satisfaction, positive affect, depression and anxiety symptoms, and their relationship with sociodemographic, psychosocial, and clinical variables in a general elderly population sample from Chile

Abstract

BackgroundThis study aims to describe the relationship between life satisfaction, positive affect, depression and anxiety symptoms with sociodemographic, psychosocial and clinical variables, and to identify the relative importance of these predictor groups.MethodsWe evaluated life satisfaction (SWLS), positive affect (PANAS), depressive (PHQ-9), and anxiety (GAI) symptoms and their association with sociodemographic, psychosocial and clinical variables in a multistage, random general population sample of fully functioning individuals aged 60–80 years from the Concepción province and Gran Santiago, Chile (n = 396). We performed weighted multiple regression analysis, considering the complex sample structure with age group, sex, and geographical area, complemented with general and conditional dominance analyses to estimate the relevance of the predictor groups.ResultsWe found significant associations with the geographical area, sex, age, education level, household members, having a partner, employment status, caregiver status, economic satisfaction, presence of chronic diseases, medication use, and alcohol use. Satisfaction with health was the most important predictor for positive affect (p < 0.001), depressive (p < 0.001), and anxiety (p < 0.001) symptoms, while alcohol use was the most significant predictor for life satisfaction (p < 0.001).ConclusionSimultaneously studying the positive and negative dimensions of wellbeing and mental health in older adults allows for a more comprehensive perspective on the challenges faced during this stage of life. This study accounts for previously unknown associations and contributes to the identification of common and specific predictors in both dimensions.

Group Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Reducing Anxiety in Middle-Aged Women

“…Effectively managing anxiety is of paramount importance for middle-aged adults, as untreated anxiety can have a profound and detrimental impact on their overall quality of life and well-being (Wilmer et al, 2021). As highlighted in studies, anxiety left unaddressed can lead to decreased productivity and strained social relationships (de Oliveira et al, 2023;Malivoire & Koerner, 2022), eroding life satisfaction and daily functioning (Saldivia et al, 2023). Furthermore, untreated anxiety can result in enduring consequences, potentially shaping the course of one's life and contributing to long-term emotional, psychological, and physical health challenges (Altamura et al, 2013;Kang et al, 2017).…”