Life satisfaction in persons of the third age after retirement

Scientific paper - Original scientific paper

• Title (croatian): Zadovoljstvo životom kod osoba treće životne dobi nakon umirovljenja
• Author: Lovorka Brajković
• Author: Rudolf Gregurek
• Author: Zorana Kušević
• Author: Ana Strahinja Ratković
• Author: Marijana Braš
• Author: Veljko Đorđević
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Clinical Medical Sciences

Abstract (english)

The aim of this research was to determine the role of gender, type of residence, living arrangement, self-rated health status, loneliness, and sense of humor in self-reported life satisfaction in elderly retirees. The study included 300 elderly retirees from Zagreb, Croatia. Demographic data were collected with a structured questionnaire, whereas data on self-reported health status, loneliness, and sense of humor were collected with the UCLA Loneliness Scale, Life Satisfaction Index, HOPA-86, and SF-36 Health Survey. Participants living in a retirement home showed higher life satisfaction than those who lived in their own households. Those who had children showed greater life satisfaction No differences in life satisfaction were found with respect to gender, marital status, or living arrangement. The investigated demographic variables, self-rated health status, self-rated loneliness, and a sense of humor explained 52.8% of variance in life satisfaction. An active sense of humor was the most significant predictor. Living in a retirement home, having children, and having an active sense of humor had a positive influence on self-reported life satisfaction, whereas poorer self-rated health and loneliness had a negative influence. Taking into account the predictors of life satisfaction in preventive activities may contribute to successful aging.

Abstract (croatian)

Cilj ovog rada je bio ustvrditi ulogu spola, načina stanovanja, mjesta stanovanja, samoprocjene zdravstvenog statusa,
samoprocjene osamljenosti i smisla za humor u objašnjenju zadovoljstva životom kod umirovljanika. U istraživanju
je sudjelovalo 300 zagrebačkih umirovljenika. Rezultati su pokazali da umirovljanici koji stanuju u Domu umirovljenika
iskazuju veće zadovoljstvo životom u odnosu na umirovljenike koji stanuju u vlastitom kućanstvu. Nadalje, umirovljenici
koji imaju djecu pokazuju veće zadovoljstvo životom u odnosu na umirovljenike bez djece. Nisu nađene razlike u
zadovoljstvu životom s obzirom na spol, bračni status i način stanovanja (s obitelji/sam). Demografske karakteristike,
samoprocjena zdravstvenog statusa, samoprocjena osamljenosti i smisao za humor objašnjavaju 52,8% varijance zadovoljstva
životom kod umirovljenika. Ativni smisao za humor se pokazao najjačim prediktorom u objašnjenju varijance
zadovoljstva životom. Istraživanje je pokazalo da stanovanje u Domu umirovljenika, imati djecu i imati aktivni smisao za
humor je u pozitivnoj vezi sa zadovoljstvom životom, dok su osjećaj osamljenosti i lošija samoprocjena zdravstvenog
statusa negativno povezane sa zadovoljstvom životom.

• Keywords (english): Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Female; Health Status; Humans; Loneliness; Male; Personal Satisfaction; Regression Analysis; Retirement
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Original scientific paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: Collegium Antropologicum
• Numbering: vol. 35, no. 3, pp. 665-671
• p-ISSN: 0350-6134
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:105:056337
• Publication: 2011-09
• Document URL: http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/107425
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2024-03-27 19:15:56