Psycho-social factors of subjective wellbeing in older adults

Cilj istraživanja bio je utvrditi stupanj subjektivne dobrobiti osoba starije životne dobi. Također, htjeli smo utvrditi neke psihosocijalne čimbenike subjektivne dobrobiti osoba starije životne dobi, te utvrditi razlikuje li se subjektivna dobrobit s obzirom na njihova sociodemografska obilježja i subjektivno zdravlje. Istraživanje je provedeno u Gerontološkom centru jednog doma za starije u Zagrebu na uzorku od 62 sudionika. Za procjenu općenitih i specifičnih pozitivnih i negativnih doživljaja i emocija korištena je ljestvica pozitivnih i negativnih doživljaja dok je zadovoljstvo životom ispitano ljestvicom koja procjenjuje globalno zadovoljstvo u 8 različitih aspekata života. Rezultati istraživanja djelomično potvrđuju početne hipoteze. Rezultati su pokazali da starije osobe doživljavaju prosječnu razinu negativnih doživljaja, visoku razinu pozitivnih doživljaja i visoku razinu zadovoljstva životom što znači da je razina subjektivne dobrobiti ispitanih osoba dosta visoka. Također, starije osobe svoje zdravlje procjenjuju prilično dobrim. Dvosmjernom analizom varijance utvrđeno je kako su neoženjeni/neudate starije osobe, bez obzira na dob, manje zadovoljne svojim životom. Rezultati linearne regresijske pokazali su kako je predviđanje zadovoljstva životom temeljem navedenih prediktora jako slabo, te koeficijent multiple korelacije nije značajan. S druge strane pokazalo se kako bolje subjektivno zdravlje i niži stupanj negativnih doživljaja predviđaju veći stupanj pozitivnih doživljaja. Rezultati istraživanja mogu se koristiti u planiranju daljnjih aktivnosti za korisnike Gerontološkog centra poput educiranja korisnika o tome kako unaprijediti svoje zdravlje ili za promoviranje organiziranja tjelesnih vježbi primjerenih korisnicima.The aim of this study was to determine the level of subjective wellbeing of older adults. We also wanted to determine psychosocial factors of subjective wellbeing of older adults, and determine whether the subjective wellbeing varies depending on their sociodemographic characteristics and subjective health. The structured interview was conducted at the Gerontological center of a retirement home in Zagreb on a sample of 62 participants. The Scale of Positive and Negative Experience was used to evaluate general and specific positive and negative experiences and emotions. The life satisfaction was tested by a scale that assesses global satisfaction in 8 different aspects of life. The results partly confirm the initial hypotheses. Results showed that older adults experienced the average level of negative experiences, a high level of positive experiences, and a high level of life satisfaction, which means that the subjective wellbeing of participants was high. Also, older adults estimated their health to be rather good. Two-way analysis of variance showed that unmarried older adults were, regardless of age, less satisfied with their life. The results of linear regression showed that prediction of life satisfaction was very weak, and the coefficient of multiple correlation was not significant at the population level. On the other hand, it has been shown that better subjective health and a lower level of negative experiences predict a greater degree of positive experiences. Research results can be used to plan further activities for older adults in Gerontological Center. Activities such as educating them about how to improve their health or arranging exercises that are suitable for users