Table of Contents
The links between health-related behaviors and life satisfaction in elderly individuals who prefer institutional living
Serap Inal1, Feryal Subasi2, Serap M Ay3 and Osman Hayran4
1School of Physical Education and Sports, İstanbul University, 34310 Avcılar, Istanbul, Turkey
2Department of Health Education, Faculty of Health Education, Marmara University, 34865, Kartal, Istanbul, Turkey
3School of Physical Education and Sports, Marmara University, Anadolu Hisarı, Beykoz, Istanbul, Turkey
4Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, Marmara University, 34668, Haydarpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
BMC Health Services Research 2007,
7:30doi:10.1186/1472-6963-7-30. Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.
Abstract
Background
Life satisfaction among residents of institutions is becoming an
important issue in a rapidly aging population. The aim of this
cross-sectional study was to investigate the links between life
satisfaction and health-related behaviors amongst functionally
independent elderly people who prefer institutional living in İstanbul,
Turkey.
Methods
The socio-demographic characteristics, health-related behaviors,
leisure-time activities and fall histories of 133 residents of an
institution in Istanbul were assessed by a structured questionnaire
during face-to-face interviews. A validated life-satisfaction index
questionnaire (LSI-A) was completed.
Results
The mean age of the study group was 73.9 ± 8.0 (range 60–90 years).
Within the group, 22.6% had never married and 14.3% had university
degrees. The majority (71.4%) were in the low income bracket. The
overall mean LSI-A score was 20.3 ± 5.9. Participants who declared
moderate/high income levels had a significantly higher mean LSI-A score
than those in the low-income bracket (p = 0.009). Multivariate analysis
of the data suggested that leisure-time activities and participation in
regular physical activities are significant predictors of LSI-A scores
(R2: 0.112; p = 0.005 and p = 0.02, respectively).
Conclusion
The findings imply that regular physical activity and leisure-time
activities are significantly related to life satisfaction among
residents in institutions. Participation in physical activity and
leisure-time activity programs may help to improve the life
satisfaction of elderly people living in institutions.