Differences in life satisfaction among older community-dwelling Hispanics and non-Hispanic Whites

Abstract

Objectives Hispanics are the fastest growing ethnic/racial group of the older adult population in the U.S., yet little is known about positive mental health in this group. We examined differences in life satisfaction between demographically-matched groups of older Hispanics and non- Hispanic Whites, and sought to identify specific factors associated with these differences. Methods Participants included 126 community-dwelling English-speaking Hispanics ages 50 and older, and 126 age-, gender-, and education-matched non-Hispanic Whites. Participants completed standardized measures of life satisfaction and postulated correlates, including physical, cognitive, emotional and social functioning, as well as positive psychological traits and religiosity/spirituality. Results Hispanics reported greater life satisfaction than non-Hispanic Whites (p<0.001). Ethnic groups were comparable on most postulated correlates of life satisfaction, except that Hispanics had lower levels of cognitive performance, and higher levels of daily spiritual experiences, private religious practices and compassion (ps<0.001). Among these factors, spiritual experiences, religious practices, and compassion were significantly associated with life satisfaction in the overall sample. Multivariable analyses testing the influence of these three factors on the association between ethnicity and life satisfaction showed that higher spirituality among Hispanics accounted for ethnic differences in life satisfaction. Conclusion English-speaking Hispanics ages 50 and older appeared to be more satisfied with their lives than their non-Hispanic White counterparts, and these differences were primarily driven by higher spirituality among Hispanics. Future studies should examine positive mental health among various Hispanic subgroups, including Spanish-speakers, as an important step toward development of culturally-sensitive prevention and intervention programs aimed at promoting positive mental health.

The educational, racial and gender crossovers in life satisfaction: Findings from the longitudinal Health and Retirement Study

“…While adjusting for all covariates in the multivariate analysis, Hispanics had the highest LS despite their disadvantaged socioeconomic status on average. Hispanics with high school or lower levels of education even reported higher levels of LS than their White counterparts, and this is consistent with several previous studies (Calvo, Carr, & Matz-Costa, 2016; Marquine et al, 2015). This finding might be explained in part by the “Hispanic Paradox,” referring to the fact that Hispanic immigrants have lower mortality rates and longer life expectancies than non-Hispanic Whites, despite lower average income and education (Abraido-Lanza, Dohrenwend, Ng-Mak, & Turner, 1999; Hummer & Hayward, 2015; Markides & Coreil, 1986; Markides & Eschbach, 2011).…”

“…Although empirical assessment of factors contributing to the “Hispanic Paradox” is still limited, culture-related factors may be the most relevant ones to consider, as quality of life is a value-laden and culturally dependent construct (Iwasaki, 2007; WHO, 1997). Religious practice and spiritual experiences, for instance, are found to be associated with SWB (Ellison, 1991), and thus may play important roles in explaining the “Hispanic Paradox” in LS (Marquine et al, 2015). In the HRS, about 96% of Hispanics were religious comparing to 92% of Whites and 95% of African Americans.…”

“…A study found that Hispanics, who compose the fastest growing segment of the older adult population in the U.S., were more satisfied with their lives than non-Hispanics (Marquine et al, 2015). Another study found that both Blacks and Hispanics had lower LS than Whites (Barger, Donoho, & Wayment, 2009).…”

Cultural and emotional determinants of cervical cancer screening among older Hispanic women

“…We measured dispositional optimism using three items (I’m always optimistic about my future; In uncertain times, I usually expect the best; Overall, I expect more good things to happen to me than bad), on a 6 point Likert scale (1=strongly disagree to 6=strongly agree), from the Life Orientation Scale (Cronbach’s alpha= .80, Scheier, Carver, & Bridges, 1994). Marquine et al (2015) validated this scale with Hispanic populations. The average of the three dispositional optimism items created an index of uncertainty avoidance-optimism, ranging from 1 - 6, with a higher number indicating low uncertainty avoidance.…”

Sense of community, participation, and life satisfaction among Hispanic immigrants in rural Nebraska

“…Another study found that Hispanics over age fifty had greater life satisfaction than non-Hispanic whites of the same age. Part of this difference was attributed to higher levels of spirituality among Hispanics [47]. Among Latino immigrant men, life satisfaction was positively associated with familism (familismo), spirituality, work satisfaction, and perceived health, and it was negatively associated with perceived discrimination [48].…”