Factors Associated with Happiness in Rural Older Adults: An Exploratory Study.

Introduction: Aging is a phenomenon that has increased worldwide as a result of a higher life expectancy, evidencing situations typical of this stage, which can impact the happiness of individuals, who deserve attention and approach from mental health and public health.
Objective: to explore the association between sociodemographic characteristics, medical history and symptoms, emotional state, social support, cognitive performance, and functional dependence, in relation to happiness in older adults in a rural area of Túquerres, Nariño.
Method: cross-sectional study of association. Results: There were 252 records in total, corresponding to the data of rural older adults. A multivariate linear regression was performed, finding an association with happiness in the variables of age ( β a = . 41; CI95% .09 - .73), socioeconomic level ( β a = -.22; CI95% -.58 - .13), education level ( β a = . 41; CI95% . 68 - 1.49), occupation ( β a = . 59; CI95% -.48 - 1.67), having chronic disease ( β a = . 42; CI95% .12 - .73), breathing difficulties ( β a = -.25; CI95% -.51 - .02), joint pain ( β a = . 55; CI95% .26 - .83), depression symptoms ( β a = -.21; CI95% -.48 - .06]) or anxiety ( β a = . 40; CI95% .72 - .07), and social support ( β a = -.27; CI95% -.52 - -.02).
Discussion: this population has unfavorable socioeconomic and health conditions that impact their perception of happiness. Conclusion: happiness is a multicausal phenomenon that in older adults is part of the result of the interaction of variables and historical decisions at a political, economic, and social level.
Competing Interests: Conflict of interests: The authors have declared that there is no conflict of interest.