Satisfaction with health among older-adults in Spain and associated factors

FERNANDEZ-MAYORALAS, G.; ROJO-PEREZ, F.; RODRIGUEZ-RODRIGUEZ, V.; FORJAZ, M.J.; PRIETO FLORES, M.E.; MOLINA-MARTINEZ, M.; RINCON-VELASCO, D.

Congreso; Gerontological Society of America 68th Annual Scientific Meeting. Aging as a lifelong process; 2015

The aim of this study is to analyze: i) personal and contextual conditionsrelated to health and functioning among older-adults in Spain, and ii) their satisfaction with health and associated factors. Data come from the Ageing in Spain Longitudinal Study-Pilot Survey (ELES-PS) (2011) (www.proyectoeles.es), a representative sample of community-dwelling people aged 50 years and older. Satisfaction with health (SWH), as a health-related quality of life indicator, was used as the dependent variable while health and functioning conditions as well as sociodemographic characteristics were employed as independent variables. Descriptive analysis, one-way ANOVA using Bonferroni post-hoc comparison, and statistical correlation techniques were applied. SWH reached 69.6% of scale maximum (±18.3) and was positively correlated with self-perceived health status, functioning in Activities of Daily Living (ADL), education and income levels, and household and residence municipality sizes. Negative correlations were found with number of chronic medical conditions, number of medications, depression and age. Sex (men), marital status (not widowers), social class (white collars) and health services utilization (not used) were also significantly associated with a higher level of SWH. Better sociodemographic, health and ADL functioning conditions, as well as a better accessibility to health services were factors associated with satisfaction with health. As part of the studies at the micro and meso scales (individual and residential environment), knowledge of personal and health conditions, and their influence on the quality of life in old age, will help in setting policies for the improvement of personal and community well-being.