Lower Life Satisfaction Research Articles

Quality of life, stress, anxiety and depression and associated factors among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Western region Saudi Arabia.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the quality of life (QoL), depression, anxiety, and stress, along with associated factors among individuals with diabetes in Saudi Arabia. This survey was conducted at King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The assessment of depression, anxiety, and stress related to Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) was conducted using the DASS-21 questionnaire, while diabetes-related QoL was evaluated using the revised version of the diabetes QoL questionnaire (RV-DQoL13). Data were analyzed using SPSS-26. A total of 251 subjects were included in the study (165 [65.7%] males and 86 [34.3%] females, mean age 50.1 ± 14.5 years). The individuals with DM had a mean value of QoL of 29.16 ± 9.23, with 46.9% having poor QoL. Furthermore, in dimensions of QoL, almost half of the individuals reported high worry about the disease (49.6%), followed by a high diabetes impact (46.6%) and low life satisfaction (42.9%). The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was 49.4, 71.7, and 49.8%, respectively. A significant correlation was found between depression, anxiety, and stress and DASS-21 scores with QoL (p < 0.001). The regression analysis indicated an association of distinct factors with QoL like age above 41 years (p = 0.004), being married (p < 0.001), being divorced (p = 0.04), higher education (p = 0.007), regular medicine intake (p = 0.01), regular exercise (p = 0.03), lipid profile (p = 0.01), HbA1c (p < 0.001), and DASS-21 scores (p < 0.001). Poor QoL score (TQoL score > 27) was significantly associated with depression, anxiety, and stress (p < 0.001). The participants with higher monthly income, shorter disease duration, regular medicine use, and altered lipid profile, and older subjects had a lower chance of depression, anxiety, and stress. Approximately half of individuals with T2DM experienced poor QoL, while the prevalence rates for depression, anxiety, and stress were 49.4, 71.7, and 49.8%, respectively. Scores in the domains of impact, worry, and satisfaction were below optimal levels. Several factors were linked to QoL and depression, anxiety, and stress, and an association was observed between DASS-21 scores and QoL.

Life satisfaction along the urban-rural continuum: a global assessment

ABSTRACT This paper assesses differences in life satisfaction along the urban-rural continuum in 111 countries across the globe. It combines survey data with a consistent definition of settlements to maximize international comparability. Once controlled for observed individual characteristics, differences in life satisfaction between people living in cities and in rural areas change with development levels. We found a positive difference at low development levels, which disappears or reverts for high-income countries. Among the factors associated with such differences are city-rural gaps in reported health problems, in physical infrastructure (built-up area), in expectations for future economic conditions, as well as in perceived housing affordability. We also show that life satisfaction varies by city size. Globally, large cities between one and five million inhabitants drive the observed city-premium, with stark heterogeneity across income levels. More specifically, residents in large metropolises over five million inhabitants report the highest and lowest life satisfaction in low- and high- income countries, respectively.

Life Satisfaction among Unaccompanied Refugee Minors: Associations with Traumatic Events and Daily Hassles

While there is a growing literature about mental health problems among unaccompanied asylum-seeking and refugee minors (URMs), far less is known about their wellbeing. Such information is important as a subjective sense of wellbeing is associated with a variety of positive health and psychosocial outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine life satisfaction and the association with traumatic events, daily hassles, and asylum status among URMs in Norway. We collected self-report questionnaire data from URMs living in Norway (n = 173, 90.80% male, 71.1% from Afghanistan). Mean age was 16.62 (SD = 1.74) years, and they reported clinically relevant post-traumatic stress symptoms. We explored variation in life satisfaction, URM-specific daily hassles and traumatic events. We also investigated a mediation model, in which we assumed that daily hassles mediated the association between traumatic events and life satisfaction. The participants reported low life satisfaction (M = 4.28, SD = 2.90, 0–10 scale). A negative outcome of the asylum process and URM-specific daily hassles were associated with reduced life satisfaction. URM-specific daily hassles accounted for the relation between traumatic events and life satisfaction. The youth had been exposed to several traumatic events yet the effect of these on life satisfaction appeared indirect, via an increase in URM-specific daily hassles. Reducing the number of, or help URM cope with, URM-specific daily hassles may increase their life satisfaction.

Examining subjective well-being during pregnancy and its association with pregnancy intendedness among women in Nigeria: A population-based cross-sectional multilevel study.

In this study, we examined the patterns of subjective well-being (SWB) measures among pregnant women and quantified the extent to which pregnancy intendedness is associated with low SWB measures during pregnancy. We analyzed data from the 2021 Nigeria Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey comprising 3,491 pregnant women. The associations between pregnancy intention and low SWB measures (unhappiness, low life satisfaction [LS] and diminished optimism) were determined by fitting series of multilevel logistic regression models with random intercepts. Among pregnant women in our sample 20%, 37.5% and 9.6%, reported being unhappy, experiencing low LS and having diminished optimism, respectively. However, we found no significant association between pregnancy intention and being unhappy (mistimed: adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=1.19, 95% CI=0.88-1.60; unwanted: aOR=1.16, 95% CI=0.71-1.91), experiencing low LS (mistimed: aOR=1.07, 95% CI=0.83-1.37; unwanted: aOR=1.06, 95% CI=0.69-1.65) and having diminished optimism (mistimed: aOR=1.22, 95% CI=0.82-1.82; unwanted: aOR=1.07, 95% CI=0.56-2.04). Findings from the study suggest that pregnant women in Nigeria who reported having either a mistimed or unwanted pregnancy were just as likely to report being unhappy, experience low LS and have diminished optimism as women whose pregnancy was intended.

Loneliness and low life satisfaction associated with older adults' poor oral health.

To examine the association of older adults' loneliness, life satisfaction, and other psychological stressors and resources with oral health status. This study merged 2018 data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) CORE survey with the HRS-Dental Module, and Psychosocial and Lifestyle Questionnaire-Panel A "Leave Behind" surveys (HRS-LB)(N = 418). Dental Module outcomes of interest were self-rated oral health status (SROH), and oral health-related quality of life (OHQOL). Older adults reported on loneliness, life satisfaction, perceived age, social status, control, mastery, and chronic stressors. Three distinct profiles based on the distribution of loneliness and life satisfaction were previously identified in the combined HRS and HRS-LB study population (N = 4,703) using latent class analysis (LCA). Class A:"Not Lonely/Satisfied" adults had the fewest psychosocial risk factors and most resources; Class C:"Lonely/Unsatisfied" adults exhibited the opposite profile (most risk factors, fewest resources); Class B:"Lonely/Satisfied" adults exhibited loneliness with favorable life satisfaction. Regression models examined associations between LCA classes and fair/poor SROH and the OHQOL scale score and individual items, after adjusting for socio-demographics. About 13% of older adults experienced loneliness, and about 16% reported low life satisfaction. About one-quarter (28%) of older adults reported fair/poor SROH, and they experienced more psychosocial risk factors than their counterparts with better oral health status. Nearly half the older adults were categorized in Class A:"Not Lonely/Satisfied" (n = 201), and about one-quarter each in Class B:"Lonely/Satisfied" (n = 103) and Class C:"Lonely/Unsatisfied" (n = 112). In fully adjusted models, Class B older adults had 1.81 (1.11-2.96) times greater odds of fair/poor SROH, and Class C had 4.64 (2.78-7.73) times greater odds of fair/poor SROH than Class A. Fully adjusted linear regression model results indicated a gradient by LCA class. OHQOL varied; Class A older adults had the best (lowest) OHQOL score (mean = 8.22, 4.37-12.10), Class B scored in the middle (mean = 12.00, 7.61-16.50), while Class C had the worst (highest) OHQOL score (mean = 16.20, 11.80-20.60). Loneliness, as a defining characteristic distinguishing three latent classes of older adults, was associated with more risk factors and poorer oral health outcomes. Loneliness, life satisfaction, perceived age, social status, control, mastery, and chronic stressors vary widely for older adults and matter for oral health and OHQOL.

Readiness of nurses when faced with a patient's death.

The death of a patient negatively affects the professional dimension of nurses' functioning and also their private lives, where professional experiences and emotions are often transmitted. The main aim of the study was to discover how the nursing staff assessed their self-efficacy in dealing with the death of a patient. The researchers used a diagnostic survey method and a self-authored survey, Life Satisfaction Scale (SWLS), Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS), Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), Courtauld Emotional Control Scale (CECS), The Death Anxiety and Fascination Scale with the Death Anxiety Subscale. The study group consisted of 287 individuals. Working in a hospital is stressful in the opinion of 79.44% of the respondents. 39.37% of the respondents feared death. In the course of work, the death of a patient in the department was sometimes experienced by 34.84% of the respondents, always experienced by 29.97%. The respondents usually did not make their compassion for a dying patient based on the patient's position in society (57.84%). In the case of the majority (84.67%) of the respondents, the employer did not provide mental support for the staff in difficult situations. The majority of the respondents did not feel the need to broaden their knowledge of death and dying (64.11%). The surveyed nurses most often presented low or average life satisfaction, high self-efficacy, average levels of stress and coping in all three styles (with a preference for avoidance-oriented), and a high level of death fascination and an average level of death anxiety. The majority of the nurses in difficult situations and when a stressful situation occurred did not receive support from their employer or from physicians, but could count on the assistance of fellow nurses and a divisional nurse. The majority of the respondents felt that psychological support in their work was important and would gladly benefit from it. Although most nurses did not feel the need to broaden their knowledge of death/dying, they would take part in such a course if it were possible.

РОЛЬ ИНФОРМАЦИОННОЙ СРЕДЫ В ДЕТСКОЙ КАРТИНЕ МИРА

Preschool-aged children actively develop their sense of time based on the routine and cyclical moments of daily life, leading to the emergence of not only a present awareness but also primary concepts of the future. The informational environment, as one aspect of a children’s image of the world, becomes integrated into their life at the level of routine components (daily leisure activities surrounded by gadgets, media, and video broadcasts on various devices). The informational environment, being a part of the routine moments of a preschooler’s daily life, can significantly influence the formation of a child’s worldview (including the present and near future), coloring it with different tones (creating confidence in tomorrow or anxieties and fears). The article presents results of an empirical studying the specifics of children’s world image under the influence of information environments of varying intensities. It shows that a high-intensity information environment influences the formation of a negatively tinted worldview and future outlook in preschool children, leading to low life satisfaction and a pronounced need for stability in the external world. Boys were found to be more engaged in the informational environment than girls. It was observed that children in low-intensity information environments pay more attention to direct communication with parents and siblings, experience positive emotions from family interactions, have a positively tinted worldview, and are optimistic about their future in it.

AGING IN THE DIGITAL ERA: ANALYSING THE MENTAL HEALTH EFFECTS OF INTERNET USE AMONG GERIATRICS – A NARRATIVE REVIEW

Introduction: The Internet has become an inseparable aspect of our daily lives, serving as a global method of communication, information acquisition, and entertainment. Given this scenario, where every segment of the demographic is engrossed in consistent and sustained internet usage, an assessment of the manner in which internet usage impacts the older populace becomes imperative. Accordingly, this narrative review aims to assess the impact of internet usage on the mental health of older individuals. Method: A computer database search of Embase, Scopus, and PubMed was carried out to identify studies revolving around internet or social media usage among elderly or older adults, with a focus on outcomes related to the effect of internet usage. A narrative synthesis was subsequently performed to summarise the findings. Results: 14 studies matched the inclusion criteria, of which four studies highlighted that internet usage, especially for social contact and entertainment, significantly increased the connection between older adults and society. Nine studies consistently indicate that a greater frequency of internet use for communication, among the elderly, can be associated with lower depression scores. However, using the internet for information access and financial management was found to be associated with a lower life satisfaction score or indicated no effect on depression scores. Many factors such as gender, age, education, geography, and purpose of internet access have a moderating effect on mental health and internet use. Conclusion: Internet usage appears to be connected with decreased social isolation and depression among the elderly. Future research should include a wider range of internet use goals, build a standardized scale for measuring internet usage, and conduct pilot studies to create more age-friendly electronic devices and smartphone applications.

Dimensions of personality organisation, mentalisation and evaluation of life and romantic relationship satisfaction

Introduction and objective: The Kernberg’s concept on the levels of personality organisation enables us to understand, on the one hand, the pathomechanism of personality disorders necessary for case conceptualisation in psychotherapy and, on the other hand, to predict individuals’ everyday functioning in interpersonal relationships and the experienced life satisfaction. In this study, we inquire whether dimensions of pathological personality structure are associated with negative evaluations of life satisfaction and interpersonal relationships. Additionally, we explored whether these relationships are modified by impaired mentalisation (as a mediator) and clinical group membership (as a moderator). Materials and methods: The study involved 88 participants (71 women) from both clinical (n = 45) and non-clinical groups, aged between 20 to 69 years (mean, M = 31.39; standard deviation, SD = 11.38). The participants completed the Kernberg’s Inventory of Personality Organization (IPO), the Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS), the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), and the Mentalization Questionnaire (MZQ). Results: The results indicate that higher intensity of all dimensions of personality pathology (identity, defence mechanisms, aggression, reality testing, and moral functioning) is significantly associated with lower life satisfaction (rho = from −0.49 to −0.32) and greater difficulties in mentalisation (rho = 0.72 to 0.56). Increased intensity of defence mechanisms is also related to lower romantic relationship satisfaction (rho = −0.23). Moderated mediation analyses with 5000 bootstrap samples (where life satisfaction is an dependent variable, dimensions of personality organisation are independent variables, mentalisation disturbance is a mediator, and clinical group membership moderates all relationships) showed that disrupted mentalisation plays a mediating role in explaining life satisfaction and that clinical vs. non-clinical group membership may not moderate these relationships. Conclusion: The results help specify the relationships between the characteristics of Kernberg’s personality structure dimensions and the evaluation of everyday life satisfaction, suggesting an important role of mentalisation processes as transdiagnostic factors worth addressing in life satisfaction appraisal.

Удовлетворённость трудом и субъективное благополучие сотрудников органов внутренних дел

Introduction. The article deals with the job satisfaction, subjective well-being, basic beliefs and stressful life of law enforcement officers. The relevance of the study is determined by the need to analyse the factors influencing police officers’ positive self-perception in order to improve their psychological health, subjective well-being as well as police officers service.&#x0D; Methods. The participants of the study were 60 law enforcement officers, aged 30.21 ± 5.30 serving 7.2 ± 8.41 years in the Russian police. The research methods include an anonymous questionnaire, “Methodology of diagnostics of integral job satisfaction”, “Scale of subjective well-being”, “Satisfaction with life scale”, “Subjective happiness scale”, “Personal beliefs scale”, “Stressfulness of life”. Statistical processing of the results was carried out by methods of a descriptive, comparative and correlation analysis.&#x0D; Results. The study found that 34% of police officers are characterised by a high and moderate level of stress, low life satisfaction, belief that people around them are unfriendly, as well as a low level of subjective happiness. 40% of police officers believe that they are not always able to control their life events, 16% have low confidence in success, 12% of respondents consider the world around them to be unfair, and 10% are convinced of their inability to cope with their life difficulties. Police officers’ satisfaction with their professional activity and career achievements decreases rapidly along with age and work experience. Their social contacts become more limited. Too much stress and unfair punishment reduce the feeling of well-being and job satisfaction. Subjective well-being is positively correlated with basic beliefs about the world’s friendliness and fairness, self-esteem, good fortune, and self-control. Satisfaction with life and the level of health are high among people whose importance of the performed duties prevails over the amount of rewards. In order to increase subjective well-being and job satisfaction of police officers, methods of positive psychology, cognitive-behavioural, rational-emotive, pathogenetic psychotherapy, body-oriented, client-centred, and gestalt therapy can be used.

Exploring the associations between being single, romantic importance, and positive well‐being in young adulthood

AbstractObjectiveThe goal was to explore if perceived romantic relationship importance moderated associations between single status and young adults' positive well‐being.BackgroundSinglehood is often framed within a deficit framework, with the expectation that being single during young adulthood may be costly for well‐being. That approach, however, does not account for young adults' romantic goals, which may shape how being single is connected to well‐being.MethodParticipants were 909 American young adults, ages 18–35 (M = 26.6, 51% female, 81% heterosexual, 58% White, non‐Hispanic), who completed an online survey in December 2019.ResultsBeing single, compared to having a romantic partner, was associated with lower love life satisfaction, general life satisfaction, and flourishing. However, the associations with general life and love life satisfaction were attenuated by relationship dismissal.ConclusionAlthough single young adults reported lower general and love life satisfaction and flourishing, when perceptions of relationship importance were taken into account, relationship dismissal ameliorated the effect of being single on love life satisfaction and general life satisfaction. Placing less importance on romantic relationships may be a promotive factor for single young adults' positive well‐being.ImplicationsThese findings have implications for supporting young adults' positive well‐being, particularly by framing singlehood as normative and, in some cases, preferable to romantic involvement.

The effects of effort-reward imbalance on the job, overcommitment, and income on life satisfaction in Germany from a longitudinal perspective

BackgroundThe effort-reward imbalance at work model offers a theoretical and analytical framework to estimate the subjective perception of work-related stress. High demands and low rewards in return can harm mental and physical health, well-being, and life satisfaction. According to the theory, overcommitment partially explains why employees endure such straining jobs. In Germany, cultural and economic aspects of labor differ between East and West. Incomes are lower in the East, while work centrality there is higher. In this article, the effects of effort-reward imbalance, overcommitment, and income on life satisfaction as well as their interactions with region were analyzed to gain a clearer picture of regional disparities regarding life satisfaction and the generality of this work stress model in Germany. MethodsData from 3848 participants from 2006 to 2011 of the German Socio-Economic Panel were analyzed. Within-between models were estimated, including fixed and random effects of the continuous form of effort-reward imbalance to predict subjective life satisfaction. Time-variant covariates – e.g., overcommitment or income – as well as time-constant variables – e.g., region, sex, education – were integrated. Differences in regional labor markets between East and West Germany were considered. ResultsEasterners exhibited higher imbalances and overcommitment than Westerners, indicating worse working conditions. Higher imbalances and overcommitment were associated with lower life satisfaction within and between participants, whereas for income only random effects were supported. While region did not moderate the effect of work stress, East Germans’ life satisfaction benefitted more from a higher income. ConclusionThe importance of internal work structures in terms of recognition, adequate pay, advancement opportunities, or time pressure were underlined. As compared to the West, Easterners’ life satisfaction benefitted more from higher income but not more from a lower imbalance or lower overcommitment. The interplay between materialistic and nonmaterialistic rewards at work should be focused on in the future.

Does working style affect the occupational balance and life satisfaction of office workers in Turkey? A comparison study.

The coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) has caused various effects, changing people's lives and work styles. During this period, workplaces decided to work remotely, so people spent more time at home. Therefore, workers' personal and work lives were negatively affected. This study planned to compare traditional and remote office workers' occupational balance and life satisfaction in Turkey during COVID-19. Google Survey was used for data collection. Three hundred office workers (18-65 years old) from Turkey participated in the study. The occupational balance and life satisfaction levels of participants were assessed using the Occupational Balance Questionnaire (QB-Quest) and Personal Well-being Index-Adult (PWI-A). Data collected were analyzed statistically by the Independent Sample t-test. It was found that the remote office workers had lower levels of occupational balance (p = 0.02; r = -3.317) and life satisfaction (p = 0.01; r = -2.199) compared to the traditional office workers. Remote office workers were found to have lower occupational balance and life satisfaction than traditional office workers. In this period, when the way of working changes like COVID-19, it is crucial to determine office workers' occupational balance and life satisfaction and take precautions for their job performance and satisfaction.

GRATITUDE, RELATIONSHIP QUALITIES, AND LIFE SATISFACTION IN LATE LIFE

Abstract Gratitude is associated with better well-being. The Find, Remind, and Bind Theory suggests gratitude may support relationships with greater affection and less conflict, contributing to well-being. This study evaluated gratitude, relationship qualities with social partners, and their association with life satisfaction in late life. We leveraged data from the Daily Experiences and Well-being Study. Older adults aged 65-92 (N = 316, Mean age = 74.03) completed measures of trait gratitude and life satisfaction. They also listed their close social partners and rated their affection and conflict with the 10 closest partners. Linear regression models indicated that older adults who reported higher gratitude also experienced higher levels of life satisfaction. Older adults who rated greater affection in ties to close social partners also experienced higher levels of life satisfaction; conflict was not associated with life satisfaction. We also found moderating effects; less affection with social partners was associated with lower life satisfaction only among older adults with lower gratitude levels. Older adults with higher gratitude levels reported high life satisfaction regardless of affection. Low conflict with social partners was associated with greater life satisfaction for older adults with higher gratitude levels, but participants who experienced high conflict with social partners reported less life satisfaction, regardless of gratitude level. In sum, associations between gratitude and well-being are complex. Gratitude may play a protective role for life satisfaction when older adults navigate their social world without much affection from partners but may be less effective in high conflict contexts.

PARENTAL TRANSITION TO LONG-TERM CARE: IMPLICATIONS FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING OF ADULT CHILDREN

Abstract Approximately a quarter of US Baby Boomers provide informal caregiving for their parents. Though the psychological burden of caregiving is well-documented, the extent to which this burden relates to parental transition into long-term care is understudied. This study examined the longitudinal associations between parental transition to long-term care and life satisfaction and depressive symptoms among older adults of the ‘Baby Boom’ generation. Sample included respondents with at least one living parent from the Health and Retirement Study, 2010 - 2018 (n = 6,519, mean age = 56). Single-item life satisfaction was assessed on a 5-point Likert scale (range: not at all - completely satisfied). Depressive symptoms were indexed by the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (range: 0-8). Multivariate mixed effects poisson regressions of depressive symptoms and life satisfaction were fit, separately, adjusting for demographic characteristics, total wealth, and interview wave. Over the study period, 12% of respondents had a parent transitioning into long-term care. On average, respondents with parents transitioning into long-term care were older, wealthier, had higher depressive symptoms and lower life satisfaction. Longitudinally, parental transitions to long-term care was associated with mild increase in reported depressive symptoms, but there was no association with life satisfaction. Our findings are generally consistent with previous studies, reaffirming that while placement of parents in long-term care may alleviate caregiving burdens, it may not reduce distress in their adult children.

FAITH AND HEALTH: THE INTRICATE INTERPLAY OF MARITAL QUALITY, RELIGIOSITY, AND DIABETES

Abstract Although chronic illness in later life can negatively affect marital quality and life satisfaction through increased stress and burden, religiosity and spirituality are known robust protective factors in relational and psychological outcomes. Stress theory suggests that religious behaviors can help moderate this negative relationship by providing patients with a sense of meaning in illness, external social support, and healthy coping mechanisms. Using data from the Life and Family Legacies Study, we analyzed cross-sectional data from 1,210 married participants around age 70 in 2016. Using an OLS linear regression model, we found main effects which showed that type 2 diabetes among older adults was predictive of lower positive marital quality and lower life satisfaction. When religious behaviors were included in the model as a moderator, religious behaviors interacted significantly with diabetes such that individuals with type 2 diabetes who reported high religiosity had high positive marital quality, while those with low religiosity reported significantly lower positive marital quality. Findings suggest that when persons with type 2 diabetes participate regularly in church services, prayer, and scripture study they experience more positive marital quality. This indicates that religiosity may be a significant protective factor and coping tool for marital quality when chronic illness is present.

DISSECTING RACIAL DIFFERENCES IN THE PERCEPTION OF DOMAIN-SPECIFIC LIFE SATISFACTION

Abstract This study examines factors contributing to racial differences in domain-specific life satisfaction. Our study offers a major contribution to prior research that has tended to pay greater attention to psychological well-being outcomes such as life satisfaction which do not directly pertain to material circumstances of older adults. Those studies generally report better life satisfaction and fewer depressive symptoms among Black older adults than their White counterparts. Our study is based on 409 randomly selected older adults from Cleveland (mean age 79 and 25% African American). We considered socioeconomic status, stressors such as recent negative life events and coping resources such as religiosity to understand their impact on domain specific life- satisfaction (e.g., satisfaction with neighborhood, housing, and standard of living). Our ordinary least squares regression estimates suggest that, on average, Black older adults reported lower levels of domain-specific life satisfaction (b=-0.81, p&amp;lt; 0.01) compared to their White counterparts, despite having stronger social support and being more religious. Even though social support and religiosity did not contribute to racial differences in domain specific life satisfaction, the inclusion of education, income, and recent negative life events fully explain such differences. Findings indicate that interrelated factors such as socioeconomic disadvantage and greater life adversities such as negative life events contribute to lower domain life satisfaction among Black older adults. This finding highlights the need for further exploration of factors shaping material-related well-being outcomes for Black older adults. Our study informs future policies addressing racial well-being inequities.

ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT AFTER RETIREMENT

Abstract Retirement has been shown to accelerate the declines in physical and mental health (Dave et al., 2008) and cognitive functioning (Celidoni et al., 2017; Xue et al., 2018) due to the identity disruption and removal of a cognitively simulating environment after leaving the workforce. This necessitates a need to systematically uncover factors that could potentially buffer the negative impacts brought by retirement. This symposium aims to identify the types of self-initiated activities that can maintain post-retirement well-being through research conducted in Hong Kong and Japan. Specifically, the first paper from Chung reveals that retirees engaging in postretirement work exhibit lower life satisfaction but higher cognitive functioning than those without work. Similarly, the second paper from Katagiri also shows that work has negative impacts on life satisfaction, but such effect is buffered by civic participation. The third paper from Ho suggests that the beneficial effects of ICT use on personal mastery is more prevalent in retirees than in non-retirees. The fourth paper from Lin discloses that participation in cognitively demanding volunteering activities is associated with better cognitive and psychological functioning. These four presentations unveil various types of post-retirement activities that are beneficial to retirees, including re-engagement in the workforce, the use of technology for leisure and financial purposes, and participation in cognitively stimulating volunteering. Given that most of the pre-retirees do not have much planning on social life arrangement, findings of this symposium provide practical implications to improve psychological adjustment to this critical life event.

THE EFFECTS OF POSTRETIREMENT WORK ON WELL-BEING OF RETIRED ADULTS

Abstract There has been evidence that a growing number of retirees are reentering the labor force (DeSilver, 2016; Greenwald et al., 2017), possibly due to financial needs and seeking continuity in their preretirement job (Burkert &amp; Hockfellner, 2017). However, the effects of post-retirement work on retirees’ well-being remain under-examined. This cross-sectional study thereby aims to examine the effects of post-retirement work in a sample of 768 younger and 530 older Hong Kong Chinese retirees (Mage = 65.1, SD = 2.72, range = 60 – 69, and Mage = 75.2, SD = 4.50, range = 70 – 95, respectively). Participation in post-retirement work, life satisfaction, cognitive functioning and hand-grip strength were measured. The results of two-way between-subject robust ANOVAs demonstrated that retirees engaging in post-retirement work exhibited lower life satisfaction (Q = 5.82, p = .02) but higher cognitive functioning (Q = 5.29, p = .02) than those without post-retirement work. Furthermore, as compared with younger retirees, older retirees engaging in post-retirement work exhibited higher cognitive functioning (Q = 3.66, p = .05) and stronger hand-grip strength (Q = 4.21, p = .04). These results remain significant even after controlling for sex, education, socioeconomic status, perceived health, and financial control. The findings of this study thus reveal the beneficial effects of post-retirement work on cognitive and physical health, but not on life satisfaction. The negative effect of post-retirement work on subjective well-being will be discussed in relation to the unsatisfactory working environment or employee benefits received by older workers in Hong Kong.

EFFECTS OF SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT ON WELL-BEING AND COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING IN OLDER HISPANICS

Abstract Research on engaged lifestyles demonstrates the importance of social engagement for aging well. The present study examined this thesis in the context of minority aging. With the theoretical lens that Hispanic cultures value social relationships, we tested whether social engagement was particularly important for maintaining well-being and cognitive functioning in Foreign-born (FB-H) and U.S.-born Hispanics (USB-H) relative to non-Hispanic Whites (NHW). Participants (N = 2677) was drawn from older adults in the Health and Retirement Study who completed the 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020 module at least once. Two types of social engagement were assessed. Social interactions were based on the frequency of interactions with close partners (i.e., children, family members, and friends). Social activity participation was measured by the frequency of volunteering, doing charity, joining clubs, and attending meetings of non-religious organizations. Results of random intercept linear models controlling for covariates showed that, consistent with the literature, social interactions predicted better life satisfaction and that both aspects of social engagement predicted better immediate and delayed recall. Unexpected patterns emerged when interaction effects of race/nativity and social engagement were tested. While the general pattern held for NHWs, we found that greater social interactions predicted lower life satisfaction in USB-H. For FB-H, greater participation in social activities correlated with lower performance on immediate recall. Echoing a recent study that reveals mixed evidence for the well-documented paradox that Hispanic immigrants hold health advantages (Tarraf et al., 2020), we call for more research on lifestyle factors and aging trajectories in racially diverse populations.