Factors influencing the subjective well being (SWB) in a sample of older adults in an economically depressed area of China

While the majority of older persons in China live in rural areas, research on the SWB of older individuals is generally scarce in China, and is particularly lacking as regards those who reside in remote areas. The present study investigated 360 elderly individuals in an economically depressed area of Hunan, China. The results of ANOVA showed correlation between income, level of education, social support, self-rated health (SRH) and SWB. The results of the logistic regression analysis demonstrated that education, income and social support showed unique and significant effects in predicting SWB, whereas the SRH approached significance. It was further demonstrated through pathway analysis that income and SRH directly predicted SWB, whereas education did so indirectly. These results suggest that the low SWB of elderly individuals in economically depressed areas of China could be improved through some interventions addressing the economic status, health and education. More specifically, a highly structured nursing intervention is recommended, as there is an urgent need for systematic approaches to improve public health services available to the elderly in poor and remote areas of China. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.