Psychosocial Well-Being Differences Between the Young Old, Old-Old, and Oldest Old: A Global Comparison

Abstract

Objectives: We investigate global differences in psychosocial well-being between older adult age groups. Methods: Using multinomial logistic regression, we analyzed 2018 data (n = 93,663) from 9 countries/regions in the Health and Retirement Study international family of studies to compare age group differences in depression, loneliness, and happiness. Results: Compared to the young old, the old-old reported more depression in Southern Europe, while the oldest old had higher risk in India and Southern Europe but lower risk in the United States. The old-old reported less loneliness in the United States but more in Southern Europe, while the oldest old had greater risk in Southern Europe. The old-old reported less happiness in Korea, while the oldest old had lower reports in Korea but higher reports in the United States. Discussion: The psychosocial well-being of the oldest old is exceptionally good in the United States but exceptionally poor in Southern Europe.