doi: 10.56294/shp202240

 

ORIGINAL

 

Life satisfaction and its relationship with the mental health of older adults in marginal urban areas of Carabayllo

 

Satisfacción con la vida y su relación con la salud mental de adultos mayores de zonas urbanas marginales de Carabayllo

 

Enrique Huamani-Uriarte1 *, Niels Romero-Alva1 *, Jorge Arturo Zapana-Ruiz2 *, Susan Gutiérrez-Rodríguez3 *

 

1Universidad de Ciencias y Humanidades.

2Universidad Tecnológica del Perú.

3Universidad Norbert Wiener.

 

Cite as: Huamani-Uriarte E, Romero-Alva N, Zapana-Ruiz JA, Gutiérrez-Rodríguez S. Life satisfaction and its relationship with the mental health of older adults in marginal urban areas of Carabayllo. South Health and Policy. 2022; 1:40. https://doi.org/10.56294/shp202240

 

Submitted: 02-04-2022                   Revised: 30-07-2022                   Accepted: 07-12-2022                 Published: 08-12-2022

 

Editor: Dr. Telmo Raúl Aveiro-Róbalo  

 

Corresponding author: Enrique Huamani-Uriarte *

 

ABSTRACT

 

Life satisfaction among older adults is important for their personal assessment of the quality of their own experiences and for their personal well-being. Therefore, the objective of this study is to determine life satisfaction and its relationship with mental health among older adults in marginal urban areas of Carabayllo. This is a quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study with a population of 270 older adults who responded to a questionnaire on sociodemographic aspects and a life satisfaction scale. The results showed that 54 (20 %) of the older adults were dissatisfied with life, 32 (11,9 %) were slightly dissatisfied, 39 (14,4 %) were neutral with regard to life satisfaction, 84 (31,1 %) were satisfied, and 50 (18,5 %) were very satisfied. In conclusion, educational talks should be given to older adults, continuing to promote the experience of positive emotions during this stage of life and allowing them to have greater satisfaction with their lives.

 

Keywords: Personal Satisfaction; Mental Health; Aged; Social Factors.

 

RESUMEN

 

La satisfacción con la vida de los adultos mayores tendrá un valor importante para la evaluación personal de ellos mismos sobre la calidad de sus propias experiencias y además de un bienestar del sentimiento personal, por lo que el objetivo de investigación es determinar la satisfacción con la vida y su relación con la salud mental de adultos mayores de zonas urbanas marginales de Carabayllo. Es un estudio cuantitativo, descriptivo y transversal, con una población de 270 adultos mayores, que respondieron un cuestionario de aspectos sociodemográficos y la escala de satisfacción con la vida. En sus resultados 54(20) de los adultos mayores estaban insatisfechos con la vida, 32(11,9 %) ligeramente insatisfechos, 39(14,4 %) están neutrales con respecto a la satisfacción con la vida, 84(31,1 %) se encuentran satisfechos y 50(18,5 %) están muy satisfechos. En conclusión, se debe realizar charlas educativas al adulto mayor, en donde se siga promoviendo la vivencia de emociones positivas durante esa etapa de vida y les permita tener una mejor satisfacción con su vida.

 

Palabras clave: Satisfacción Personal; Salud Mental; Personas Mayores; Factores Sociales.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION

Older adults are considered a group of people who, in the contemporary world, constitute a growing population with special needs related to the significant advances in science and technology, especially the promotion of health sciences, where the increase in the aging population is a challenge for the world and requires governments to pay more attention to this group.(1) However, it is often difficult to achieve higher levels of life satisfaction as age and physical and psychological problems increase.(2)

Given that the impact of this situation is evident in different spheres of society at the economic, socio-political, cultural, educational, and healthcare levels, as well as in the media, it becomes an opportunity to transform social policies and improve the quality of life of older adults.(3)

According to the World Health Organization, by 2020, the number of people aged 60 and over will exceed the number of children under five, requiring an increasingly comprehensive approach that addresses all areas of health, including the psychological aspect, which is determined by the life satisfaction perceived by older people.(4) As a result, older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic have seen their physical and emotional health affected by factors directly associated with the infection, such as increased risk of morbidity and mortality, and by indirect factors such as loneliness, isolation, dependence, violence, discrimination, and lack of access to basic food and health services.(5)

Given the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential to learn about new findings on the variables under study in the adult population in general, which, unlike other life cycles, is exposed to various changes as part of its maturity and independence. Social, family, and work demands and responsibilities begin to increase. Personal, emotional, social, and economic difficulties, parenthood, unemployment, retirement, health problems, the onset of new diseases, and even death are some of these demands.(6)

Defining well-being as the subjective component of quality of life. Life satisfaction represents the cognitive dimension of well-being that results from a balance between expectations and achievements. Happiness constitutes the affective dimension of well-being and is also a subjective indicator of quality of life.(7) Given that life satisfaction is considered a subjective concept that assesses various areas, including health, psychology, and social aspects of older people’s lives, it could be an indispensable part of successful aging.(8)

Social distancing measures sought to contain the spread of infection, prioritizing the prevention and management of COVID-19 cases. Still, other health needs that affected people’s quality of life, especially the most vulnerable, were neglected.(9)

In North America, a study conducted in Mexico with 235 older adults found that 53 % reported being highly satisfied, 20 % satisfied, and 9 % slightly happy. This indicates that most patients would not change much if they had to start anew; instead, they expressed the least satisfaction with the statement “in most ways, my life is close to my ideal”.(10)

In Africa, a study conducted in northeastern Ethiopia on 816 older adults indicated that the level of life satisfaction was: dissatisfied 17,2 %, moderately satisfied 63,8 %, and very satisfied 19,0 %, showing that the level of life satisfaction in our study group was lower than in some more developed countries.(11)

In Asia, a study conducted in Iran on 679 older adults in the city of Qom revealed that 91,8 % were illiterate and/or had a low level of education, of whom 41,8 % had low life satisfaction, 54,2 % had average life satisfaction, and 4 % had high life satisfaction. Therefore, to increase the level of life satisfaction among older adults, it is suggested to promote social support, health status, and cognitive status.(12)

A study in Ecuador conducted in three provinces with 682 older adults indicated that satisfaction with quality of life was explained by a single factor that accounted for 72,46 % of the total variance, revealing that older adults improve their satisfaction with quality of life as they maintain an adequate perception of their current economic situation, they do not have a poor perception of their health, they attach greater importance to family, and they have a considerable number of resources related to food. This factor explains 68,92 % of the total variance.(13)

In Chile, a study of 101 older adults in southern Chile showed that they are satisfied with their lives, with a higher level of agreement that their lives are close to their ideal in many respects (70 %), that if they could live their lives again they would not change anything (65 %), their living conditions are excellent (64 %), they are satisfied with their lives (57 %), and so far they have obtained the essential things they have wanted in their lives (56 %).(14)

 

METHOD

Research type and design

According to the properties of the research, it is quantitative, descriptive-transversal, and non-experimental.(15)

 

Population

The total population consists of 270 residents of the district of Carabayllo.

Inclusion Criteria

·      Participants who have lived in the district for more than 1 year

·      Participants over 60 years of age

·      Participants who agree to participate voluntarily in the study

 

Technique and Instrument

The data collection technique was a survey, which collected sociodemographic data, and the data collection instrument was the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS).

The SWLS comprises five items distributed unidimensionally, which are rated on a Likert scale with five response options: “1 = strongly disagree,” “2 = disagree,” “3 = neutral,” “4 = agree,” and “5 = strongly agree,” yielding a score ranging from 5 to 25 points. Therefore, the higher the score, the greater the life satisfaction of older adults in marginal urban areas of Carabayllo.(16,17)

 

Place and Application of the Instrument

In order to collect data, coordination with the members of each household was necessary to carry out the study. At the same time, they were provided with information about what was going to be done so that they were aware of the research.

 

RESULTS

Figure 1. Life satisfaction among residents of marginal urban areas of Carabayllo

 

Figure 1 shows that 4,1 % (n=11) of participants are extremely dissatisfied with their lives, 20 % (n=54) are dissatisfied with their lives, 11,9 % (n=32) are slightly dissatisfied with their lives, 14,4 % (n=39) are neutral regarding their satisfaction with life, 31,1 % (n=84) are satisfied with their lives, and 18,5 % (n=50) are very satisfied with their lives.

 

Figure 2. Life satisfaction in relation to gender among residents of marginal urban areas of Carabayllo

 

Figure 2 shows that, in relation to gender, 17,2 % (n=32) of males are very satisfied with life, 25,8 % (n=48) are satisfied with life, 18,8 % (n=35) are neutral about life satisfaction, 14 % (n=26) are slightly dissatisfied with life, 19,9 % (n=37) are dissatisfied with life, and 4,3 % (n=8) are very dissatisfied with life. (n=26) are slightly dissatisfied with life, 19,9 % (n=37) are dissatisfied with life, and 4,3 % (n=8) are extremely dissatisfied with life. As for females, 21,4 % (n=18) are very satisfied with life, 4,9 % (n=36) are satisfied with life, 4,8 % (n=4) are neutral about life satisfaction, 7,1 % (n=6) are slightly dissatisfied with life, 20,2 %(n=17) are dissatisfied with life, and 3,6 % (n=3) are extremely dissatisfied with life.

 

DISCUSSION

This study covers the mental health of older adults, given that life satisfaction is one of the factors that determines how older adults feel comfortable with their extrinsic and intrinsic environment.

In terms of life satisfaction, older adults are delighted with their lives. This is because older adults are at peace, tranquil, cared for by their families, and their families are their primary source of emotional support, care, security, and affection, which allows them to have a very satisfying quality of life. Since the mental and social health of older adults enables them to be independent and autonomous, it provides them not only with the ability to meet their own needs but also to feel comfortable with the life they have led until reaching old age. Therefore, their physical, mental, and social well-being is in complete harmony, given that during all this time, they have managed to overcome adverse effects that prevented them from improving their quality of life.

 

CONCLUSIONS

It is concluded that educational talks should be given to older adults, promoting the experience of positive emotions during this stage of life that can improve their life satisfaction.

It is concluded that strategies should be implemented to enable older adults to maintain their emotional and social well-being, so that their satisfaction with life is positive.

 

REFERENCES

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2. S. Papi, Z. Karimi, M. Zilaee, and P. Shahry, “Malnutrition and Its Relation to General Health and Multimorbidity in the Older People,” J Holist Nurs Midwifery. 2019;29(4):228-35. doi: 10.32598/JHNM.29.4.228. 

 

3. H. Gil, “La pobreza en el laberinto burocrático,” Cuad Trab Soc. 2020;33(2):427-8. doi: 10.5209/cuts.68005. 

 

4. Organización Mundial de la Salud. Según una encuesta mundial de la OMS, el 90% de los países han sufrido interrupciones de sus servicios de salud esenciales desde el inicio de la pandemia de COVID-19. OMS; 2022. https://www.who.int/es/news/item/31-08-2020-in-who-global-pulse-survey-90-of-countries-report-disruptions-to-essential-health-services-since-covid-19-pandemic.  

 

5. M. De Cruz and D. Banerjee, “An invisible human rights crisis’: The marginalization of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic – An advocacy review,” Psychiatry Res. 2020;292:113369. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113369. 

 

6. J. De la Serna. Aspectos Psicológicos del COVID-19. 1st ed. Tektime; 2020. 

 

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11. H. Sewunet, H. Lindgren, B. Geda, T. Azale, and K. Erlandsson, “Satisfaction with life and associated factors among elderly people living in two cities in northwest Ethiopia: A community-based cross-sectional study,” BMJ Open. 2022;12(9):e061931. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-061931. 

 

12. S. Papi and M. Cheraghi, “Multiple factors associated with life satisfaction in older adults,” Prz Menopauzalny. 2021;20(2):65-71. doi: 10.5114/pm.2021.107025. 

 

13. D. Arévalo, C. Game, C. Padilla, and N. Wong, “Predictores de satisfacción con la calidad de vida en adultos mayores de Ecuador,” Rev Espac. 2020;41(12):1-12. https://www.revistaespacios.com/a20v41n12/a20v41n11p10.pdf. 

 

14. R. Navarro, M. Denegri, and V. Peñaloza, “Satisfacción con la vida y capacidades financieras en adultos mayores con envejecimiento activo: estudio exploratorio en el sur de Chile,” InterSedes. 2020;21(43):57-77. doi: 10.15517/isucr.v21i43.41977. 

 

15. C. Fernández and P. Baptista. Metodología de la Investigación. 2015. http://observatorio.epacartagena.gov.co/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/metodologia-de-la-investigacion-sexta-edicion.compressed.pdf. 

 

16. R. Emmons, R. Larsen, and S. Grifo, “The Satisfaction With Life Scale,” J Pers Assess. 1985;49(1):71-5. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13.   

 

17. G. Calderón, F. Lozano, A. Cantuarias, and L. Ibarra, “Validación de la Escala Satisfacción con la Vida en trabajadores peruanos,” Liberabit. 2018;24(2):249-64. doi: 10.24265/liberabit.2018.v24n2.06. 

 

FUNDING

None.

 

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

None.

 

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTION

Conceptualization: Enrique Huamani-Uriarte, Niels Romero-Alva, Jorge Arturo Zapana-Ruiz, Susan Gutiérrez-Rodríguez.

Data curation: Enrique Huamani-Uriarte, Niels Romero-Alva, Jorge Arturo Zapana-Ruiz, Susan Gutiérrez-Rodríguez.

Formal analysis: Enrique Huamani-Uriarte, Niels Romero-Alva, Jorge Arturo Zapana-Ruiz, Susan Gutiérrez-Rodríguez.

Research: Enrique Huamani-Uriarte, Niels Romero-Alva, Jorge Arturo Zapana-Ruiz, Susan Gutiérrez-Rodríguez.

Methodology: Enrique Huamani-Uriarte, Niels Romero-Alva, Jorge Arturo Zapana-Ruiz, Susan Gutiérrez-Rodríguez.

Project management: Enrique Huamani-Uriarte, Niels Romero-Alva, Jorge Arturo Zapana-Ruiz, Susan Gutiérrez-Rodríguez.

Resources: Enrique Huamani-Uriarte, Niels Romero-Alva, Jorge Arturo Zapana-Ruiz, Susan Gutiérrez-Rodríguez.

Software: Enrique Huamani-Uriarte, Niels Romero-Alva, Jorge Arturo Zapana-Ruiz, Susan Gutiérrez-Rodríguez.

Supervision: Enrique Huamani-Uriarte, Niels Romero-Alva, Jorge Arturo Zapana-Ruiz, Susan Gutiérrez-Rodríguez.

Validation: Enrique Huamani-Uriarte, Niels Romero-Alva, Jorge Arturo Zapana-Ruiz, Susan Gutiérrez-Rodríguez.

Visualization: Enrique Huamani-Uriarte, Niels Romero-Alva, Jorge Arturo Zapana-Ruiz, Susan Gutiérrez-Rodríguez.

Writing – original draft: Enrique Huamani-Uriarte, Niels Romero-Alva, Jorge Arturo Zapana-Ruiz, Susan Gutiérrez-Rodríguez.

Writing – review and editing: Enrique Huamani-Uriarte, Niels Romero-Alva, Jorge Arturo Zapana-Ruiz, Susan Gutiérrez-Rodríguez.