Subjective well-being of the elderly in Xi Cheng District, Beijing

BACKGROUND: In 2010 the Beijing Municipal Government promulgated a policy aimed at improving the quality of life and subjective well-being of elderly residents that included a component focused on mental health. AIM: Identify factors associated with subjective well-being in a representative sample of elderly residents of Xi Cheng District in Beijing. METHODS: This cross-sectional study administered a self-completion survey to a stratified random sample of 2342 residents of Xi Cheng District who were 60 to 80 years of age. The level of well-being was assessed using a validated Chinese version of the Memorial University of Newfoundland Scale of Happiness (MUNSH). Detailed socioeconomic variables were obtained using a questionnaire developed by the authors. Social support, anxiety, and depression were assessed using validated Chinese versions of the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS). RESULTS: Among the 2342 respondents, 1616 (69.0%) had a total MUNSH score of 32 or above, indicating a high level of happiness; 423 (18.1%) has a total SSRS score 32 or below, indicating poor social support; 201 (8.6%) had a total SDS score of 53 or above, indicating significant depression; and 126 (5.3%) had a total SAS score of 50 or above, indicating significant anxiety. In the multivariate regression analysis the self-reported level of depression was the most important factor related to well-being. Anxiety, social support, income level, the quality of family relationships, the ability to self-regulate emotions, and regular exercise were also significantly related to well-being; but gender, marital status, age and educational level were not associated with well-being. CONCLUSION: Among elderly urban residents in Beijing, self-reports of poor subjective well-being are closely associated with self-reports of depressive and anxiety symptoms and also associated with social factors such as social support, income level and family relationships. Prospective studies are needed to identify the causal relationships of these variables and, based on the findings, to develop targeted interventions aimed at improving the quality of life and well-being of elderly community members.