Life Satisfaction in the Elderly: The Role of Mental Health and Loneliness

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Academic Center of Psychology, Culture and Research Institute Staff in Khuzestan Branch, Ahvaz, Iran

10.22126/jap.2022.8287.1656

Abstract

Aging is one of the highly important stages of human life, during which people face a wide range of physiological and psychological changes. During these changes, issues such as mental health, loneliness and life satisfaction appears to be crucial. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between mental health and feeling of loneliness with life satisfaction in the elderly of Ahvaz. The research design was correlational. The statistical population of the study included all people over 60 years old living in Ahvaz, Iran, among whom 400 were selected using convenience sampling method. The tools applied in this research included Goldberg's mental health questionnaire and Russell et al.’s loneliness, and Diener et al.’s life satisfaction questionnaires. The collected data were analyzed using the statistical methods of Pearson’s correlation coefficient and stepwise regression. The findings indicated that mental health disorders (r=-0.17) and loneliness (r=-0.14) have a significant negative relationship with life satisfaction in the elderly (P0.01). Besides, mental health disorders and feeling of loneliness could significantly predict 4% of the changes in life satisfaction in the elderly, and the share of mental health disorders was more than that of feeling of loneliness. According to the above-mentioned results stating that the feeling of loneliness and mental health are related to life satisfaction, it seems necessary to strengthen the communication network of the elderly through their more participation and activity in their warm hearth and local centers in order to reduce the feeling of loneliness among them. It is also suggested that counselors and psychologists working in the field of elderly, should take steps to increase mental health and cosecuently increase the level of the eldery’s life satisfaction.
References
Andalib Kourayem, M., & Mohammadinia, S. (2021). The Quality of life in the elderly: The Role of resiliency and mindfulness. Aging Psychology, 7(2), 167-179. [Persian]
Alinasab, S., Shahgholian, M., & Farahani, M.T. (2017). Relationship between extraversion/ neuroticism and mental well-being: The Mediating role of mindfulness" Journal of Psychological Health Research, 11(1), 1-12. [Persian]
Asadi bijaeeye, J., Amiri Majd, M., Ghamari, M., & Fathi Aghdam, Gh. (2021). The Effectiveness of the self-compassion training on life satisfaction and resilience of the elderly women. Aging Psychology, 7(1), 55-67. [Persian]
Bagheri, M. J., Asgharnejad Farid, A. A., & Nasrolahi, B. (2022). The Relationship between self-efficacy and quality of life through the mediating role of psychological well-being in the elderly. Aging Psychology, 8(1), 39-54. [Persian]
Borg C, I. Hallberg, and K. Blomqvist. (2006). Life satisfaction among older people (65+) with reduced self-care capacity: The Relationship to social, health and financial aspects. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 15 (5), 607–618. 
Çakar, F. S. (2020). The Levels predicting the death anxiety of loneliness and meaning in life in youth. European Journal of Education Studies, 6(11), 97-121.‏
Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The Satisfaction with life scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49(1), 71-75.
Esmaeel Pur Deylmaghani, R., Panah Ali, A., Aghdasi, A., & Khademi, A. (2022). The Effectiveness of group logo therapy on death anxiety, feeling of loneliness and meaning of life in the elderly women with fear of coronavirus. Aging Psychology, 8(2), 135-147. [Persian]
Fardi Nejad, Z., & Ahadi, H. (2013). The Relationship between general health and perceived social support with life satisfaction in the elderly. Quarterly Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 5 (15), 87-100. [Persian]
Fukuzawa, A., & Sugawara, I. (2022). Social support and participation as factors relating to ikigai and life satisfaction in lonely older Japanese. Ageing International. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-022-09486-6
 GhanavatiNejad, J. (2022). The Relationship between job stress and job burnout with the mental health of police force employees in Ramhormoz city in Khuzestan province. JNIP, 13(17), 1-13.
Girzadas, P. M., Counte, M. A., Glandon, G. L., & Tancredi, D. J. (1993). An Analysis of elderly health and life satisfaction.     Behavior, Health, and Aging, 3(2), 103-117. 
Goldberg, D. P. (1972). The Detection of psychiatric illness by questionnaire. Maudsley MonographNo. 21. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Goldberg, D. P., Gater, R., Satrorius, N., & Ustun, T. B. (1997). The Validity of two versions of the GHQ in the WHO study of mental illness in general health care. Psychological Medicine, 27(1), 191-197.
Guner, T. A., Erdogan, Z., & Demir, I. (2021). The Effect of loneliness on death anxiety in the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic. OMEGA-Journal of Death and Dying, 0(0), 1-21.
Hashemi, Z., & Eini, S. (2019). Perceived stress in the elderly: The Role of spiritual intelligence, self-compassion and psychological toughness. Psychology of Aging, 5 (4), 289-299. [Persian]
Hastaoglu, F., & Mollaoglu, M. (2022). The Effects of activities of daily living education on the independence and life satisfaction of elders. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppc.13149
Henrich, L.M., & Gullone, E. (2006). The Clinical significance of loneliness: A Literature review. Clinical Psychology Review, 26(6), 695-718.
Hojjati, H., Koochaki, G., & Sanagoo, A. (2012). The Relationship between loneliness and life satisfaction of the elderly in Gorgan and Gonbad cities. Journal of Research Development in Nursing and Midwifery, 9(1), 61-68. [Persian]
Jahanshiri, S., Rajabi, M., & Mohammad Qashqai, A. (2018). Assessment of mental health status of elderly people in Tehran and its related factors. Retirement Strategies Journal, 1(2), 41-51. [Persian]
Kaveh Farsani, Z., Kaveh, M., & Ghodrati, S. (2021). The Relationship between Savouring beliefs, optimism, and subjective happiness in the elderly: The Mediating role of life satisfaction. Aging Psychology, 7(3), 229-245. [Persian]
 Kim, C., & Ko, H. (2018). The Impact of self-compassion on mental health, sleep, quality of life and life satisfaction among older adults. Journal of Geriatric Nursing, 39 (6), 623-628. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gerinurse.2018.06.005
Köttl, H., Fallahpour, M., Hedman, A., Nygård, L., & Kottorp, A. (2020). Depression, everyday technology use and life satisfaction in older adults with cognitive impairments: A Cross‐sectional exploratory study. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 35(1), 233–243. https://doi.org/10.1111/scs.12838
Liu, J., Wei, W., Peng, O., Xue, C., & Yang, S. (2022). The Roles of life satisfaction and community recreational facilities in the relationship between loneliness and depression in older adults. Clinical Gerontologist, 45(2), 376-389.
Melendez, J. C., Tomas, J. M., Oliver, A., & Navarro, E. (2009). Psychological and physical dimensions explaining life satisfaction among the elderly: A Structural model examination. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 48(3), 5-291.
Naderi, F., & Esmaeli, A. (2008). Death anxiety and suicide ideation with well-being in students. The Journal of New findings in Psychology, 2(8), 35-46. [Persian]
Najafi, M., Dabiri, S., Dehshiri, G., & Jafari, N. (2013). The Role of hope, loneliness feeling and their components in prediction of elders' life satisfaction. Journal of Counseling Research, 12(47), 99-114. [Persian]
Pan L., Li L., Peng H., Fan L., Liao J., Wang M., Tan A., & Zhang Y. (2022). Association of depressive symptoms with marital status among the middle-aged and elderly in Rural China–Serial mediating effects of sleep time, pain and life satisfaction. Journal of Affective Disorders, 303, 52-57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.01.111.
Russell, D., Peplau, L. A., & Ferguson, M. L. (1978). Developing a measure of loneliness. Journal of Personality Assessment, 42(3), 290-294.
Salimi, E., Dasht Bozorgi, B., Mozafari, M., & Tabesh, H. (2014). Investigating mental health status and life satisfaction of retired elderly referred to retirement’s centers of the Jundishapur University of medical sciences and Shahid Chamran University in Ahvaz. Iranian Journal of Geriatric Nursing, 1(1), 20-31. [Persian]
 Salmani, M., & Zoghi, L. (2022). The Relationship between loneliness, spiritual intelligence and general health with death anxiety in the elderly: The Mediating role of mindfulness. Aging Psychology, 8(1), 39-54. [Persian]
Sharifi Daramadi, P., & Panah Ali, A. (2011). A Comparison between the level of happiness among the elderly living at home and that of senior home residents. Salmand: Iranian Journal of Ageing, 6 (3), 49-55. [Persian]
Tabe Bordbar, F., Esmaeili, M., & Asadi, R. (2019). The Prediction of death anxiety in the elderly based on personality types and mental health. Aging Psychology, 5(3), 239-249. [Persian]
Taghavi, M. (2001). Validation and validity of general health questionnaire (GHQ). Journal of Psychology, 5(4), 381-398. [Persian]
Tajabadi, Z., & Dehghani, F. (2021). The Prediction of the life satisfaction based on the attachment styles and gratitude in the elderly living in a nursing home. Aging Psychology, 7(1), 69-81. [Persian]
Tavares, A.I. (2021). Health and life satisfaction factors of Portuguese older adults. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 99, Article 104600. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2021.104600.
Vahedi Kojanagh, H., Afshari, A., Rezaei Malajagh, R., Eghbali, A., & Tayeri, M. (2020). The Prediction of the elderly’s life satisfaction based on health-promoting lifestyle. Aging Psychology, 6(3), 285-297. [Persian]
Yan, Z. Y., Su, X. R., & Wu, J. J. (2019). The Satisfaction level of the needs of the rural elderly affects their life satisfaction: The mediating effect of loneliness. In Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Education and Social Science (ICESS 2019) (p. 6).
Zanjari, N., Elsagh, A., Sadeghi, R., & Nouri, M. (2018). Factors Affecting life satisfaction of the elderly people in Tehran. Social Work Research, 5(16), 101-126. [Persian]

Keywords


References
Andalib Kourayem, M., & Mohammadinia, S. (2021). The Quality of life in the elderly: The Role of resiliency and mindfulness. Aging Psychology, 7(2), 167-179. [Persian]
Alinasab, S., Shahgholian, M., & Farahani, M.T. (2017). Relationship between extraversion/ neuroticism and mental well-being: The Mediating role of mindfulness" Journal of Psychological Health Research, 11(1), 1-12. [Persian]
Asadi bijaeeye, J., Amiri Majd, M., Ghamari, M., & Fathi Aghdam, Gh. (2021). The Effectiveness of the self-compassion training on life satisfaction and resilience of the elderly women. Aging Psychology, 7(1), 55-67. [Persian]
Bagheri, M. J., Asgharnejad Farid, A. A., & Nasrolahi, B. (2022). The Relationship between self-efficacy and quality of life through the mediating role of psychological well-being in the elderly. Aging Psychology, 8(1), 39-54. [Persian]
Borg C, I. Hallberg, and K. Blomqvist. (2006). Life satisfaction among older people (65+) with reduced self-care capacity: The Relationship to social, health and financial aspects. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 15 (5), 607–618. 
Çakar, F. S. (2020). The Levels predicting the death anxiety of loneliness and meaning in life in youth. European Journal of Education Studies, 6(11), 97-121.‏
Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The Satisfaction with life scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49(1), 71-75.
Esmaeel Pur Deylmaghani, R., Panah Ali, A., Aghdasi, A., & Khademi, A. (2022). The Effectiveness of group logo therapy on death anxiety, feeling of loneliness and meaning of life in the elderly women with fear of coronavirus. Aging Psychology, 8(2), 135-147. [Persian]
Fardi Nejad, Z., & Ahadi, H. (2013). The Relationship between general health and perceived social support with life satisfaction in the elderly. Quarterly Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 5 (15), 87-100. [Persian]
Fukuzawa, A., & Sugawara, I. (2022). Social support and participation as factors relating to ikigai and life satisfaction in lonely older Japanese. Ageing International. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-022-09486-6
 GhanavatiNejad, J. (2022). The Relationship between job stress and job burnout with the mental health of police force employees in Ramhormoz city in Khuzestan province. JNIP, 13(17), 1-13.
Girzadas, P. M., Counte, M. A., Glandon, G. L., & Tancredi, D. J. (1993). An Analysis of elderly health and life satisfaction.     Behavior, Health, and Aging, 3(2), 103-117. 
Goldberg, D. P. (1972). The Detection of psychiatric illness by questionnaire. Maudsley MonographNo. 21. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Goldberg, D. P., Gater, R., Satrorius, N., & Ustun, T. B. (1997). The Validity of two versions of the GHQ in the WHO study of mental illness in general health care. Psychological Medicine, 27(1), 191-197.
Guner, T. A., Erdogan, Z., & Demir, I. (2021). The Effect of loneliness on death anxiety in the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic. OMEGA-Journal of Death and Dying, 0(0), 1-21.
Hashemi, Z., & Eini, S. (2019). Perceived stress in the elderly: The Role of spiritual intelligence, self-compassion and psychological toughness. Psychology of Aging, 5 (4), 289-299. [Persian]
Hastaoglu, F., & Mollaoglu, M. (2022). The Effects of activities of daily living education on the independence and life satisfaction of elders. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppc.13149
Henrich, L.M., & Gullone, E. (2006). The Clinical significance of loneliness: A Literature review. Clinical Psychology Review, 26(6), 695-718.
Hojjati, H., Koochaki, G., & Sanagoo, A. (2012). The Relationship between loneliness and life satisfaction of the elderly in Gorgan and Gonbad cities. Journal of Research Development in Nursing and Midwifery, 9(1), 61-68. [Persian]
Jahanshiri, S., Rajabi, M., & Mohammad Qashqai, A. (2018). Assessment of mental health status of elderly people in Tehran and its related factors. Retirement Strategies Journal, 1(2), 41-51. [Persian]
Kaveh Farsani, Z., Kaveh, M., & Ghodrati, S. (2021). The Relationship between Savouring beliefs, optimism, and subjective happiness in the elderly: The Mediating role of life satisfaction. Aging Psychology, 7(3), 229-245. [Persian]
 Kim, C., & Ko, H. (2018). The Impact of self-compassion on mental health, sleep, quality of life and life satisfaction among older adults. Journal of Geriatric Nursing, 39 (6), 623-628. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gerinurse.2018.06.005
Köttl, H., Fallahpour, M., Hedman, A., Nygård, L., & Kottorp, A. (2020). Depression, everyday technology use and life satisfaction in older adults with cognitive impairments: A Cross‐sectional exploratory study. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 35(1), 233–243. https://doi.org/10.1111/scs.12838
Liu, J., Wei, W., Peng, O., Xue, C., & Yang, S. (2022). The Roles of life satisfaction and community recreational facilities in the relationship between loneliness and depression in older adults. Clinical Gerontologist, 45(2), 376-389.
Melendez, J. C., Tomas, J. M., Oliver, A., & Navarro, E. (2009). Psychological and physical dimensions explaining life satisfaction among the elderly: A Structural model examination. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 48(3), 5-291.
Naderi, F., & Esmaeli, A. (2008). Death anxiety and suicide ideation with well-being in students. The Journal of New findings in Psychology, 2(8), 35-46. [Persian]
Najafi, M., Dabiri, S., Dehshiri, G., & Jafari, N. (2013). The Role of hope, loneliness feeling and their components in prediction of elders' life satisfaction. Journal of Counseling Research, 12(47), 99-114. [Persian]
Pan L., Li L., Peng H., Fan L., Liao J., Wang M., Tan A., & Zhang Y. (2022). Association of depressive symptoms with marital status among the middle-aged and elderly in Rural China–Serial mediating effects of sleep time, pain and life satisfaction. Journal of Affective Disorders, 303, 52-57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.01.111.
Russell, D., Peplau, L. A., & Ferguson, M. L. (1978). Developing a measure of loneliness. Journal of Personality Assessment, 42(3), 290-294.
Salimi, E., Dasht Bozorgi, B., Mozafari, M., & Tabesh, H. (2014). Investigating mental health status and life satisfaction of retired elderly referred to retirement’s centers of the Jundishapur University of medical sciences and Shahid Chamran University in Ahvaz. Iranian Journal of Geriatric Nursing, 1(1), 20-31. [Persian]
 Salmani, M., & Zoghi, L. (2022). The Relationship between loneliness, spiritual intelligence and general health with death anxiety in the elderly: The Mediating role of mindfulness. Aging Psychology, 8(1), 39-54. [Persian]
Sharifi Daramadi, P., & Panah Ali, A. (2011). A Comparison between the level of happiness among the elderly living at home and that of senior home residents. Salmand: Iranian Journal of Ageing, 6 (3), 49-55. [Persian]
Tabe Bordbar, F., Esmaeili, M., & Asadi, R. (2019). The Prediction of death anxiety in the elderly based on personality types and mental health. Aging Psychology, 5(3), 239-249. [Persian]
Taghavi, M. (2001). Validation and validity of general health questionnaire (GHQ). Journal of Psychology, 5(4), 381-398. [Persian]
Tajabadi, Z., & Dehghani, F. (2021). The Prediction of the life satisfaction based on the attachment styles and gratitude in the elderly living in a nursing home. Aging Psychology, 7(1), 69-81. [Persian]
Tavares, A.I. (2021). Health and life satisfaction factors of Portuguese older adults. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 99, Article 104600. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2021.104600.
Vahedi Kojanagh, H., Afshari, A., Rezaei Malajagh, R., Eghbali, A., & Tayeri, M. (2020). The Prediction of the elderly’s life satisfaction based on health-promoting lifestyle. Aging Psychology, 6(3), 285-297. [Persian]
Yan, Z. Y., Su, X. R., & Wu, J. J. (2019). The Satisfaction level of the needs of the rural elderly affects their life satisfaction: The mediating effect of loneliness. In Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Education and Social Science (ICESS 2019) (p. 6).
Zanjari, N., Elsagh, A., Sadeghi, R., & Nouri, M. (2018). Factors Affecting life satisfaction of the elderly people in Tehran. Social Work Research, 5(16), 101-126. [Persian]