engleski

Comparison of Life Satisfaction Determinants in Old Persons from Different Living Environments

Life satisfaction – a person‘s global assessment of subjective quality of life is one of the indicators of successful psychological adaptation in later life when a person is faced with changes and losses: in health, physical and cognitive functioning, social engagement, and productive activities. The aims of the present study were to examine the contribution of psychosocial factors to the interpretation of life satisfaction in old persons residing in retirement homes compared to the community dwelling old adults. Participants were 240 in all, of whom 120 were retirement homes‘ residents in Zagreb, Croatia, on average 81 years old, and 120 were community dwelling persons, on average 75 years old. All were mobile and not diagnosed with dementia. Variables were: sociodemographic, self-perceived health, functional ability, social participation, and life satisfaction. Measurement was applied individually, by the trained interviewers, at retirement homes and at participants‘ own homes. Significant differences in life satisfaction were found regarding the participants‘ living environment. Community dwelling old persons showed significantly higher life satisfaction than retirement homes‘ residents (t= -2, 32 ; p< , 05). Regression analysis confirmed the significant contribution of the observed psychosocial variables to the prediction of life satisfaction (R2=, 25 ; F=12, 1, p< , 001). Self-rated health significantly and positively predicted life satisfaction in the retirement homes‘ participants in comparison with the community dwelling participants where a greater variability was found in factors that determined their life atisfaction. Implications of this study are in considering the potential of old persons living in different environments to adapt to well-being challenges.

life satisfaction, old persons, living environments

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