Factors Associated with Happiness in Rural Older Adults: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

Introduction: Aging is a phenomenon that has increased worldwide as a result of a higher life expectancy, evidencing situations typical of this stage, which can impact the happiness of individuals, who deserve attention and approach from mental health and public health. Objective: to explore the association between sociodemographic characteristics, medical history and symptoms, emotional state, social support, cognitive performance, and functional dependence, in relation to happiness in older adults in a rural area of Túquerres, Nariño. Method: cross-sectional study of association. Results: There were 252 records in total, corresponding to the data of rural older adults. A multivariate linear regression was performed, finding an association with happiness in the variables of age (βa = .41; CI95% .09 – .73), socioeconomic level (βa = -.22; CI95% -.58 – .13), education level (βa = .41; CI95% .68 – 1.49), occupation (βa = .59; CI95% -.48 – 1.67), having chronic disease (βa = .42; CI95% .12 – .73), breathing difficulties (βa = -.25; CI95% -.51 – .02), joint pain (βa = .55; CI95% .26 – .83), depression symptoms (βa = -.21; CI95% -.48 – .06]) or anxiety (βa = .40; CI95% .72 – .07), and social support (βa = -.27; CI95% -.52 – -.02). Discussion: this population has unfavorable socioeconomic and health conditions that impact their perception of happiness. Conclusion: happiness is a multicausal phenomenon that in older adults is part of the result of the interaction of variables and historical decisions at a political, economic, and social level.