Anthropological Researches and Studies (Jun 2024)
MEANING, SATISFACTION, AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN OLDER ADULTHOOD: A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN ELDERS IN RESIDENTIAL CENTERS AND THOSE LIVING INDEPENDENTLY
Abstract
Objectives. This study is relevant to understanding the quality of life (QOL) among elderly individuals in Romania. With an increasing aging population, it is crucial to examine the factors contributing to older adults' well-being and life satisfaction. By investigating the connections between the meaning of life, QOL, and life satisfaction, this study sheds light on the subjective experiences and perceptions of elderly individuals residing in private homes and institutions. Material and Methods. The sample included 200 individuals aged sixty or older from Bucharest, evenly distributed between the two groups. Regression analysis, using perceived social support as a mediator and life satisfaction as the dependent variable, utilized the "presence of meaning" subscale from Steger's Meaning in Life Questionnaire. IBM S.P.S.S. software facilitated data analysis, employing Kruskal-Wallis and Pearson correlation tests alongside descriptive statistics. Education, health, children count, and residence's impact on meaning in life were explored. Results. A significant positive influence of "presence of meaning" and "perceived social support" on life satisfaction was found, explaining 44.8% of its variance. Sobel's mediator test confirmed the significant role of perceived social support in mediating the link between the presence of meaning and life satisfaction. Meaning varied significantly across education levels, with higher education correlating with greater meaning. Institutionalized and childless individuals reported lower meaning compared to those at home and with children. Furthermore, positive correlations emerged between meaning and self-rated health and the EQ Index reflecting health preferences. Stronger personal meaning related to better self-rated health and higher EQ Index scores. Conclusions. This study underscores personal meaning's predictive value, the mediating role of perceived social support in life satisfaction, and the influence of education, living situation, children count, and perceived quality of life on meaning perception among older adults. These findings enhance comprehension of factors impacting satisfaction and meaning perception in this demographic group.
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