Abstract
Population ageing is one of the most significant recent demographic developments. It is seen both as a success of national policy and socioeconomic development and a challenge for society, which is consequently required to seek the improvement of people’s living conditions. Old age is individually experienced within a genetic and cultural framework. We hence frame active, successful and healthy ageing in terms of remaining active, committed to life, and socially participative. In this context, the aim of this study was to explore how the concept of happiness is an indicator of the quality of life of older people. A quantitative, analytical, cross-sectional study was carried out in three cities in Colombia (Medellín, Barranquilla, and Pasto), including a total of 1514 people, who were selected on a probabilistic basis. We used the Lima Happiness Scale to measure the main outcome. In total, 85.6% of the population considered themselves to be happy, and the remaining 14.4% were indifferent or somewhat unhappy. After adjusting for demographic variables (age and gender) and sociodemographic variables, health and lifestyle, we found a positive association between satisfaction with quality of life and happiness (prevalence ratio (PR) = 4.94, 95% CI 3.30–7.39). It is not sufficient to merely accumulate years. They need to be lived with the maximum possible quality, with material and intangible conditions that provide wellbeing and can be assimilated as happiness. This is what comprises quality of life. Wellbeing and happiness appear to have a natural affinity, and intangible or subjective aspects related to wellbeing must be taken into account for the material and objective aspects of living conditions to be satisfied. Enjoying life makes people happy. As such, happiness is a component of quality of life that is associated active ageing.
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Cardona-Arango, D., Segura-Cardona, A., Muñoz-Rodríguez, D.I., Segura-Cardona, Á. (2021). Happiness as a Quality of Life Component for Active Ageing in Colombia. In: Rojo-Pérez, F., Fernández-Mayoralas, G. (eds) Handbook of Active Ageing and Quality of Life. International Handbooks of Quality-of-Life. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-58031-5_25
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