Does Active Aging Reduce Mortality Risk Among Older Adults? A Survival Analysis in Malaysia

Abstract

Active aging is important for promoting the health, wellbeing, and participation of older adults. This study investigated the association between active aging and mortality risk among 2 230 respondents aged 60 and older. Principal component analysis extracted a five-factor structure from 15 indicators of active aging. The mean active aging score was 55.57 and the median was 53.33. The Kaplan-Meier curve showed that individuals with active aging scores of 53.33 and above had significantly longer survival than those below the median. Cox regression analysis indicated the significance of active aging in reducing mortality risk by 2.5% after adjusting for sex, marital status, age, ethnicity, chronic diseases, and risk factors. The active aging approach comprising health, economic, and social factors is crucial in improving survival among older adults. Hence, policies and programs that promote active aging should be encouraged to enhance the health and wellbeing of older adults and their engagement in society.