Life satisfaction and associated factors in older Hong Kong Chinese.

OBJECTIVE

To determine life satisfaction and its association with physical, functional, socioeconomic, psychological, and social support characteristics in Hong Kong Chinese aged 70 years and older.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Territory-wide random sample of persons aged 70 years and older.

SUBJECTS

A total of 843 men and 714 women were selected by random sampling, stratified by age and sex, from the Old age and Disability Allowance Register, after exclusion of subjects with cognitive impairment.

MEASUREMENTS

Life satisfaction was assessed by the subjects' response to the question "Are you satisfied with life", using a 0 to 10-point linear scale. They were also asked to name the most important factor contributing to life satisfaction. Information was also obtained regarding physical health, functional ability, depressive symptoms, and socioeconomic factors.

RESULTS

There was a weak association between score and age. Health, adequate income to meet living expenses, and caring relatives were rated the most important factors (> 65%). Some of these factors were also those associated with a high life satisfaction score. Factors associated with a life satisfaction score greater than 6 points were higher social class and educational attainment, adequate income to meet living expenses, satisfactory living arrangement, Christianity, good social support, participation in social activities, functional independence, good self-perceived health, good hearing and vision, daily exercise, absence of recurrent falls, and low depressive symptom score. Multiple logistic regression identified having two or more relatives and tertiary education as positive associated factors, whereas inadequate income to meet expenses, dissatisfaction with living arrangement, nonparticipation in religious group activities, and a high depressive symptom score were negative associated factors.

CONCLUSION

In older Chinese, social factors such as the support provided by family members, as well as adequate income to meet living expenses, play a role equal to that of physical factors in contributing to life satisfaction.