Correlates of Life Satisfaction Among Middle-Aged and Older Black Adults

J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2021 Oct;8(5):1249-1259. doi: 10.1007/s40615-020-00884-7. Epub 2020 Oct 6.

Abstract

Background: This study examines satisfaction across life domains (condition of the home, city of residence, daily life/leisure, family life, current financial situation, total household income, health, and life as a whole) among Black adults. The study also explores the association between satisfaction in each life domain and sociodemographic, personality, and mental/physical health measures.

Methods: A community-dwelling sample of Black adults (n = 93, age range = 55-80) residing in the Tampa, FL area, completed a life satisfaction scale and measures of sociodemographic factors, personality, and mental/physical health between October 2014 and June 2016.

Results: Better life satisfaction was observed in the oldest-old (80+) compared with the middle-aged (55-64; p < .05). Less education, less financial strain, lower depressive symptoms, and better self-rated physical health were associated with higher satisfaction although the pattern of results varied by domain.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the evaluation of life satisfaction domains may be a useful approach for identifying specific individual needs, which may inform age-friendly community initiatives.

Keywords: Black adults; Life domains; Life satisfaction; Well-being.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Black or African American / psychology*
  • Black or African American / statistics & numerical data
  • Florida
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Personal Satisfaction*
  • Socioeconomic Factors