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Asset Impacts on Life Satisfaction in an Asset-Rich Country: Focusing on Older Adults in Singapore

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  • Song-Iee Hong
  • Chang-Keun Han

Abstract

Using a representative sample, this study examined the extent to which assets matter for life satisfaction among older adults in Singapore. Singapore is a particularly useful context to explore the relationship between life satisfaction and assets because almost all Singaporeans own their own house, regardless of income level. First, this study used a latent profile analysis to assess patterns of life satisfaction. Then, asset impacts on this pattern of life satisfaction were examined, while controlling for contextual and health factors. The study found that financial assets matter for life satisfaction of older adults in Singapore. In particular, older adults in both the moderate life satisfaction class (LSC) and the High LSC were likely to have higher financial assets. Comparatively, other economic indicators such as real assets, total debts, and monthly household income were not significantly related to life satisfaction of older adults in the Moderate and High LSC compared to the Low LSC. However, real assets and monthly household income were significant predictors distinguishing the Moderate LSC and the High LSC. Throughout the models, total debts were not considered as a significant predictor of life satisfaction differences. This paper concludes by providing several policy and practice implications. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014

Suggested Citation

  • Song-Iee Hong & Chang-Keun Han, 2014. "Asset Impacts on Life Satisfaction in an Asset-Rich Country: Focusing on Older Adults in Singapore," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 118(1), pages 125-140, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:118:y:2014:i:1:p:125-140
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-013-0410-z
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    2. Shiyou Wu & Mimi V. Chapman & Meihua Zhu & Xiafei Wang, 2020. "Household Assets, the Role of Government Assistance, and Depression Among Low-Income Families in Shanghai," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 149(2), pages 571-584, June.

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