Be happy - a safety valve in maturity

Shalish, Y., Siebzehner, M. I., Rubinstein D., Gelbart O., Itzhaki, M.,  Raanan, O., & Shatzman, C. (2009). Be happy - a safety valve in maturity. (Poster) ICN 24th Quadrennial Congress: Leading change: Building Healthier Nations, Durban, South Africa

Introduction: Older adults typically tend to assess life through a subjective comparison of the past relative to the present or the future. In the process of successful aging involves healthy aging, retirement, play and creativity and continual sense of intellectual and social development. However, this description did not include happiness, which is subjective well-being, understood as overall satisfaction with our lives or as high average levels of enjoyment and other desired emotions

Aim: This study aims to assess the influence of the level of education and social support (marital status and caregivers) on happiness in later adulthood

Methodology: A structured questionnaire containing demographic data and questions related to happiness was distributed for self-completion by older adults (65 years +) residents of a "Mishan" assisted living facility. The data was processed using SPSS software

Results: The sample consisted of 345 older adults of mean age 81.87 years, 69.2% females and 30.8% males. The educational level reported ranged from 8 years schooling to Academic Graduate School. The majority of participants were widowed (59.5%). A significant correlation was found between marital status and happiness. No correlation was found between educational level and happiness.  The level of happiness was lower when the relationship with formal social support (caregivers) was broader

Conclusions: These findings offer a relative understanding on the influence of education and social support on happiness in later adulthood .People reported being happier if married and needing less social support (caregivers). Educational levels did not have a direct effect on happiness in later adulthood