Comparing the Impact of Biopsychosocial Factors on the Subjective Well-Being (SWB) of Older Adults 50 Years and Over in the United States

Abstract

Purpose: The study compared the effects of biomedical, psychological, and social factors on eudaimonic, evaluative, and affective well-being (SWB). Little research demonstrating the relative effects of these biopsychosocial factors on SWB has been conducted.

Method: A subsample (n=1764) of the Everyday Life and Well-being Survey of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) was utilized. Respondents had to be ≥50 years old. Data were analyzed with the general linear model in the SPSS complex sampling design module.

Results: The sample was mostly female (61.60%), White (89.40%), Hispanic (6.60%), averaged 60.23 years of age, 12.72(0.11) years of education, and 2.89/0.03 chronic diseases. The mean scores of perceived aging satisfaction, perceived mastery, loneliness, and years of education were associated with eudaimonic well-being. Age, chronic disease, perceived age, perceived aging satisfaction, loneliness, financial security, neighborhood social cohesion, and positive support were associated with evaluative well-being. Depression, perceived aging satisfaction, perceived mastery, loneliness, and neighborhood social cohesion were associated with positive affective well-being.

Discussion/Conclusion: More psychological factors and sociological factors, were associated with the three types of well-being than biomedical factors. Perceived aging satisfaction and loneliness were significant across all three types, whereas neighborhood social cohesion was across two types. The findings point to increasing the importance of psychological and sociological factors in designing public health interventions.