Aging & Social Change: Tenth Interdisciplinary Conference

Abstract

This qualitative research aims to explore happiness of urban older person perspectives and factors associated to happiness. This research is part of the project “Life Happiness of Elderly People in the Northeast, Thailand.” A total of 18 older persons who were 60 years old and up participated in this study. Data were collected by in-depth interview with each older person and followed by 4 focus group discussions. Data analysis were done simultaneously with data collection by performing content analysis and thematic analysis. Result show that happiness from urban older person perspectives is based on life satisfaction. Life satisfaction was a dynamic concept composing of four dimensions related to each other: 1) health, 2) family, 3) social, and 4) economic status. Factors associated with satisfaction in life composing of four factors: 1) life competency: self-care and health literacy, 2) accessible to health care service, 3) family support, and 4) social network support. It was suggested that happiness in life of urban older persons need to promote satisfaction in life for four dimensions. The more all four dimensions they have; the more happiness they feel. Older persons who face with physical health problems can also be happy if they have health literacy and caring skills and get supports from families and societies