Subjective wellbeing, health, and ageing

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Gerontology
• Public Health

Background:

• Subjective wellbeing (SWB) encompasses evaluative, hedonic, and eudemonic aspects, with significant links to health and aging.
• Global SWB patterns exhibit considerable variation across different regions and age groups.
• The bidirectional relationship between health and SWB, particularly in older populations, warrants further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze patterns of subjective wellbeing across the lifespan.
• To investigate the association between different dimensions of wellbeing and survival rates in older adults.
• To examine the influence of geographical and demographic factors on age-related wellbeing trends.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from the Gallup World Poll across over 160 countries.
• Examination of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) cohort.
• Statistical analysis of wellbeing dimensions, survival data, and demographic/health covariates.

Main Results:

• A U-shaped curve for evaluative wellbeing was observed in high-income, English-speaking countries, peaking in middle age (45-54 years).
• Significant regional variations exist: progressive decline in Eastern Europe/former Soviet Union, decline in Latin America, and stability in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Eudemonic wellbeing was significantly associated with increased survival in older adults; the lowest quartile had a 29.3% mortality rate versus 9.3% in the highest quartile over 8.5 years.

Conclusions:

• Subjective wellbeing in older adults is a critical consideration for economic and health policy.
• Current psychological and economic theories inadequately explain the diverse global patterns of wellbeing across the lifespan.
• While a protective role of high wellbeing on survival is suggested, further research is needed to confirm causality.