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Ageing and vulnerability | 13.03.2023Satisfied in old age - but how?
Social support increases the life satisfaction of older people. It is an important factor in promoting well-being in old age despite vulnerability. This shows a research article, published by BiB scientists in the Journal of Gerontology and Geriatrics.
Source: Uwe_Umstaetter / Getty Images
More and more people are reaching an advanced age and are hence more prone to the risk of needing care and/ or falling seriously ill. This has consequences for their life satisfaction. BiB scientists Dr Volker Cihlar, Frank Micheel and Dr Andreas Mergenthaler investigate factors, which contribute to a more satisfied life in old age.
Social support increases life satisfaction in old age
Based on the data set "Gesundheit in Deutschland aktuell" (German Health Update), the BiB team studied the connection between nultidimensional vulnerable persons aged 65 and older and their life satisfaction. In general, the more vulnerable an older person, the lower his or her life satisfaction.
The findings show that social support, for example from fellow citizens or government benefits, can cushion the negative correlation between vulnerability and life satisfaction among older people. Thus, it is an important factor for those elders who suffer losses in life satisfaction due to their vulnerability. In this context, the more vulnerable a person is, the greater his or her need for social support in order to experience a satisfactory quality of life – despite physical, mental, or social disadvantages that have occurred.
Extent of social support varies by life situation
Vulnerable older people with a small or unreliable social network and with difficulties in accessing practical help need additional external social support to reach a high level of life satisfaction. Acknowledging vulnerability as a multidimensional construct helps to provide a more nuanced view of the life situation of older people.
Original publication
Cihlar, Volker; Micheel, Frank; Mergenthaler, Andreas (2022): Multidimensional vulnerability among older adults in Germany. In: Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie.