Influence of Self-esteem and Preparation for Aging on the Happiness of Older Thai Adults: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Happiness is necessary for older adults’ physical and psychological well-being. The objective of this study was to examine the associations of self-esteem and preparation for aging with happiness and to determine the predictive factors of the happiness of older Thai adults. Methods: The study had a cross-sectional predictive correlational design and included 225 older Thai adults aged 60–69 years selected using multi-stage random sampling. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires, and the collected data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis. Results: The study results showed that 64.9% of the study participants were moderately happy. The factors that significantly influenced their happiness were self–esteem and preparation for aging (p < 0.05), meaning their self–esteem and preparation for aging were able to predict their happiness, accounting for approximately 67.0% of the variance of such happiness. Conclusion: Older adults’ healthcare providers should organize activities for enhancing older adults’ self-esteem and for helping them prepare well for old age.