Adults Aged 75+ Happy in Conventional Dwelling or Independent Living Facility but Associated With Thriving and Ageism.

Abstract

This study aimed to compare levels of happiness of older women and men living in conventional dwellings (CD) and independent living facilities (ILF), and examine happiness' associations with thriving, social participation, community integration and ageism (self-directed and discrimination). A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a random sample of 509 older adults in CD and 470 in ILF in Quebec, Canada. Participants' mean age was 82.22 ± 5.35, and two-thirds were women. Levels of happiness were similar in both sexes and settings. Greater happiness was associated with greater thriving for all (β = 0.28-1.48), social participation for women in CD (β = 0.67), community integration in CD (β = 0.42 for women and 1.18 for men), and reduced ageism, i.e., discrimination for women in CD (β = -1.02) and men in ILF (β = -0.28), and self-directed for men in CD (β = -0.21). The findings demonstrate that happiness was associated with factors related to the living environment and could be enhanced through targeted interventions.