Prevalence and correlates of well-being in a cross-sectional survey of older people in Romania attending community day facilities

Abstract

Background and objectivesCompared with other European countries, older people in Romania experience high rates of poverty and disability. In this, the first study to investigate wellbeing in older Romanian people attending public and third sector day facilities, we tested our hypotheses, based on a successful aging model, that greater wellbeing would be associated with a healthier lifestyle (lower levels of alcohol consumption and smoking), better physical health, mental health, social support (less loneliness) and absence of abuse. MethodsOlder people (65+) without significant cognitive impairment, recruited from three Bucharest social care centers, completed structured questionnaires. Our primary outcome was the 5-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5). Results100/140 (71%) eligible potential participants approached participated; mean WHO-5 score was 67.7 (standard deviation=20.7); 25 (25%) scored <50, indicating low wellbeing. In our final model, lower depression (β=−0.40, t=−3.8, p<0.001) and loneliness scores (β=−0.22, t=−2.1, p=0.034) predicted higher wellbeing. More physical health problems and hospitalisations were associated with lower wellbeing on univariate analyses, but not in the final model. Screening positive for abuse (23 (23%) of participants), activities of daily living, alcohol and smoking status did not predict wellbeing. ConclusionsDespite experiencing high rates of loneliness, depression, anxiety and abuse, this population of older, Romanian people receiving social support, reported wellbeing levels comparable to European working populations. Loneliness was a more important predictor of lower wellbeing than any other factors studied. Tailored interventions to reduce loneliness in Romanian older people receiving community social support would be a rational next step.