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 = 0.41; CI95% 0.09–0.73), socioeconomic level (βa = -0.22; C95% -0.58 – 0, 13), education level (βa = 0.41; 95% CI -0.68 – 1.49), occupation (βa = 0.59; 95% CI -0.48 – 1.67), having chronic disease (βa = 0.42; 95% CI 0.12–0.73), breathing difficulties (βa = -0.25; 95% CI -0.51–0.02), joint pain (βa = 0, 55; 95% CI 0.26 – 0.83), depression symptoms (βa = -0.21; 95% CI -0.48 – 0.06]) or anxiety (βa = 0.40; 95% CI 0 .72 – 0.07), and social support (βa = -0.27; CI95% -0.52 – -0.02). 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.