THE DETERMINANTS OF LIFE SATISFACTION AMONG MONGOLIAN OLDER ADULTS

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Abstract Background As the average life expectancy and the proportion of the elderly population increases, approaches that limit their policies, programs, and activities to health issues are changing worldwide. International organizations, such as the WHO, United Nations, have pledged their member countries to update their policies on the elderly population and increase their psychological and social participation over the next 20 years. We determined social demographic factors of life satisfaction among Mongolian older adults. Methods A cross-sectional study recruited three hundred four older adults recruited by geriatric doctors and seniors’ association units in urban and rural areas of Mongolia. The questionnaire included life satisfaction, social network, loneliness, social participation, self-rated health, and demographics. We used multiple linear regression analyses. Result: Life Satisfaction of the older adults living in urban is higher than those living in rural area (β = 0.954, p = 0.001). Good self-rate of health (β = 1.013 p = 0.001), voluntary work (β = 0.847 p = 0.001), and employment increase life satisfaction levels. Life satisfaction scores increased by 0.3 points for male older adults with a 1-point increase in education, 0.9 points for women living in cities (β = 0.929 p = 0.002), and 0.8 points for volunteering (β=0.790 p=0.006) respectively. However, when the loneliness score increases by one, the satisfaction score decreases by 0.3 points (β = -0.353 p = 0.013). Conclusions: The level of satisfaction of the Mongolian older adults is associated with self-rate of health, education level, loneliness, social activities, and living areas.