Relationship between vulnerability and life satisfaction in older population in Russia

Abstract

The article examines the relationship between various components of vulnerability and life satisfaction among older people in Russia. Empirically, the study bases on data from the first wave of the WHO Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) for 2007–2010. The analysis showed that physical vulnerability, or frailty, is associated with a significantly lower level of life satisfaction of the older population. At the same time, there are differences in this relationship between age groups, and an increase in the physical vulnerability of individuals aged 75–89 years old reduces their subjective well-being to a greater extent in comparison with the group of individuals aged 60–74 years old. The financial situation of individuals also plays a significant role: lack of income to cover daily needs negatively affects subjective well-being. Socializing with friends is another predictor of life satisfaction in older age.

Impact of restrictive policies on lives of the elderly: lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic

“…However, studies show that they experience many socio-economic and psychological problems, such as loneliness, low mobility, sense of uselessness, low participation in public activities (Grigorieva 2005;Kuchmaeva 2018). Moreover, in times of crisis, self-perception of older citizens has worsened (Popova, Zorina 2020;Fokina 2021). Position of workers of retirement age in the Russian market is accounted for by the fact that they are the carriers of human capital of a certain quality, especially in the field of intellectual labor, which allows them to occupy highly qualified jobs (Kapeliushnikov 2017).…”

“…A strong association between social isolation and depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation should be taken into consideration (Santini et al 2020). All this contributes to higher social vulnerability of older people, especially those who need or may need public care due to age and inability to take care of themselves or protect themselves (Fokina 2021).…”

“…Worth noting are studies (Akimkin et al 2020;Anikeeva et al 2021, Galkin 2021) on problems of accessibility of social space for the elderly, depending on the territory of resi-dence; according to the authors, it becomes a reproduction factor of inequality and social vulnerability (Fokina 2021). Respondents demonstrated a different understanding of limited spaces depending on the size of the city (village), availability or absence of services, opportunities for involvement in social life, which would minimize the negative effects of the older people "being cooped up inside".…”