The Path to Well-Being among Elderly Arab Israelis

Abstract

The purpose of this inquiry was to test a path model that explains how sociodemographic background characteristics, functional health state, social network structure, and extent of activity affect well-being among elderly Arab Israelis, a population in transition from an agrarian to a modern culture. Using data from a national survey, the study revealed that respondents' morale was negatively associated with functional disability and positively associated with social network and activity level. Disability was predicted by lower income and education, older age, and female gender. Activity level was predicted by low disability, male gender, education, and social network. The study results provide support for the contention that the path to successful aging is universal. However, the results also suggest that within the general path to a good old age one can find culturally unique characteristics. In the case of older Arab Israelis, these included belonging to community- and family-oriented network structures and engaging in socially oriented activity.

Solidarity Between Generations and Elders' Life Satisfaction: Comparing Jews and Arabs in Israel

“…Personal resources, such as physical functioning and financial adequacy, were stronger predictors of life satisfaction. These findings are consistent with studies demonstrating the importance of health to well-being in old age (Farquhar, 1995;Litwin, 2006). Regarding the linkage of financial situation to life satisfaction, it might be related to the relatively difficult economic situation of the elderly in Israel, generally.…”

“…The pattern, however, is being gradually transformed as a result of economic and social changes stemming from the influence of modernization and urbanization (Katz, 2009a;Litwin, 2006). These processes impact family and community status of Israeli-Arab elders as the traditional extended kinship structure has been modified toward more modern instrumentalized kinship patterns (Al-Haj, 1989;Azaiza, Lowenstein, & Brodsky, 1999;Katz & Lowenstein, 2002).…”

Intergenerational Family Relations and Life Satisfaction Among Three Elderly Population Groups in Transition in the Israeli Multi-cultural Society

“…Farquhar 1995;Fernandez-Ballesteros et al 2001) and over the interaction between these variables and cultural context. Also Litwin (2006) found that functional status was the major determinant of well-being among older Arab Israelis.…”

Intergenerational Relations: The Views of Older Jews and Arabs

“…Despite social transitions from traditional to modern and from collectivistic to individualistic orientation (Azaiza, 2008;Azaiza, Lowenstein, & Brodsky, 1999;Gliksman & Litwin, 2011;Litwin, 2006;Lowenstein & Katz, 2000), older Arabs are more likely than older Jews to live in homes adjacent to their adult children or close by, in tightly knit, family-oriented communities (Khalaila & Litwin, 2011). Sixty-eight percent of older Arabs live with their family (compared with 18% of older Jews), mostly with their children (Brodsky, Shnoor, & Be'er, 2009).…”