Psychosocial Well-Being Differences Between the Young Old, Old-Old, and Oldest Old: A Global Comparison

Overview

Journal J Aging Health

Publisher Sage Publications

Specialty Geriatrics

Date 2024 Jul 20

PMID 39031083

Authors

Shane D Burns

Eileen M Crimmins

Mutian Zhang

Jennifer A Ailshire

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: We investigate global differences in psychosocial well-being between older adult age groups.

Methods: Using multinomial logistic regression, we analyzed 2018 data ( = 93,663) from 9 countries/regions in the Health and Retirement Study international family of studies to compare age group differences in depression, loneliness, and happiness.

Results: Compared to the young old, the old-old reported more depression in Southern Europe, while the oldest old had higher risk in India and Southern Europe but lower risk in the United States. The old-old reported less loneliness in the United States but more in Southern Europe, while the oldest old had greater risk in Southern Europe. The old-old reported less happiness in Korea, while the oldest old had lower reports in Korea but higher reports in the United States.

Discussion: The psychosocial well-being of the oldest old is exceptionally good in the United States but exceptionally poor in Southern Europe.

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