Original scientific paper
Life Satisfaction in Persons of the Third Age after Retirement
Lovorka Brajković
Rudolf Gregurek
Zorana Kušević
Ana Strahinja Ratković
Marijana Braš
Veljko Đorđević
Abstract
The aim of this research was to determine the role of gender, type of residence, living arrangement, self-rated health
status, loneliness, and sense of humor in self-reported life satisfaction in elderly retirees. The study included 300 elderly
retirees from Zagreb, Croatia. Demographic data were collected with a structured questionnaire, whereas data on self-reported
health status, loneliness, and sense of humor were collected with the UCLA Loneliness Scale, Life Satisfaction Index,
HOPA-86, and SF-36 Health Survey. Participants living in a retirement home showed higher life satisfaction than
those who lived in their own households. Those who had children showed greater life satisfaction No differences in life
satisfaction were found with respect to gender, marital status, or living arrangement. The investigated demographic
variables, self-rated health status, self-rated loneliness, and a sense of humor explained 52.8% of variance in life satisfaction.
An active sense of humor was the most significant predictor. Living in a retirement home, having children, and having
an active sense of humor had a positive influence on self-reported life satisfaction, whereas poorer self-rated health
and loneliness had a negative influence. Taking into account the predictors of life satisfaction in preventive activities
may contribute to successful aging.
Keywords
older people; quality of life; health; loneliness; humor; retirement
Hrčak ID:
72153
URI
Publication date:
30.9.2011.
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