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Factors Associated with Happiness among Malaysian Elderly

Author

Listed:
  • Shamsul Azhar Shah

    (Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia)

  • Nazarudin Safian

    (Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia)

  • Saharuddin Ahmad

    (Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia)

  • Wan Abdul Hannan Wan Ibadullah

    (Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia)

  • Zulkefley bin Mohammad

    (Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia)

  • Siti Rohani Nurumal

    (Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia)

  • Juliana Mansor

    (Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia)

  • Mohd Fairuz Addnan

    (Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia)

  • Yugo Shobugawa

    (Division of International Health (Public Health), Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata 950-2181, Japan
    Department of Active Ageing, Niigata University Graduate, School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata 951-8510, Japan)

Abstract

Happiness is an essential component to experience healthy ageing. Hence, understanding the factors that contribute to happiness is important. This study aimed to determine the factors associated with happiness among the elderly population in Malaysia. In this study, 1204 respondents were recruited from urban and rural areas in Selangor. A face-to-face interview was conducted using the Bahasa Malaysia version of the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study questionnaire. The inclusion criteria include Malaysians who are 60-years old and above and can converse in the Malaysian language. Those who encounter less than seven scores for the Abbreviated Mental Test were excluded from the study. Among the 1204 respondents, 953 (79.2%) were happy. Sociodemographic characteristics showed that being a men, age of 60 to 74 years, and living in urban areas were significantly associated with happiness. A logistic regression model showed that locality (aOR 1.61), income category (Bottom 40% aOR 0.49; Middle-class group 40% aOR 1.40), social engagement (active aOR 1.77; less active aOR 1.25), receiving emotional support (aOR 2.11) and handgrip strength (aOR 1.02) were significantly associated with happiness. Thus, ensuring the elderly population in receiving emotional support and active social engagement among them can enhance their happiness level.

Suggested Citation

  • Shamsul Azhar Shah & Nazarudin Safian & Saharuddin Ahmad & Wan Abdul Hannan Wan Ibadullah & Zulkefley bin Mohammad & Siti Rohani Nurumal & Juliana Mansor & Mohd Fairuz Addnan & Yugo Shobugawa, 2021. "Factors Associated with Happiness among Malaysian Elderly," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-11, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:7:p:3831-:d:531001
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Krueger, Alan B. & Schkade, David A., 2008. "The reliability of subjective well-being measures," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(8-9), pages 1833-1845, August.
    2. Christina Musalek & Sylvia Kirchengast, 2017. "Grip Strength as an Indicator of Health-Related Quality of Life in Old Age—A Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-12, November.
    3. Ed Diener & Derrick Wirtz & William Tov & Chu Kim-Prieto & Dong-won Choi & Shigehiro Oishi & Robert Biswas-Diener, 2010. "New Well-being Measures: Short Scales to Assess Flourishing and Positive and Negative Feelings," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 97(2), pages 143-156, June.
    4. Nazarudin Safian & Shamsul Azhar Shah & Juliana Mansor & Zulkefley Mohammad & Siti Rohani Nurumal & Wan Abdul Hannan Wan Ibadullah & Saharuddin Ahmad & Yugo Shobugawa, 2021. "Factors Associated with the Need for Assistance among the Elderly in Malaysia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-14, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Maki Nakajima & Aiko Kikkawa & Norma Mansor & Halimah Awang, 2024. "Subjective well-being of older persons in Malaysia," The Japanese Economic Review, Springer, vol. 75(4), pages 927-950, December.
    2. Lanlan Zhao & Xin Zheng & Kai Ji & Zhengsheng Wang & Lingzhi Sang & Xuefei Chen & Ling Tang & Ying Zhu & Zhongliang Bai & Ren Chen, 2022. "The Relationship between Social Support and Anxiety among Rural Older People in Elderly Caring Social Organizations: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-12, September.

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