The role of human environmental well-being in predicting life satisfaction: focus on Hispanic and white older adults

ABSTRACT

This study sought to develop and test a comprehensive model that depicts the associations of human environmental well-being (physical, financial, residential, and social satisfaction) on older adults’ life satisfaction between two ethnic groups in the US, with a focus on residential satisfaction. Data were collected through an online survey targeting Hispanics and Whites (60+) living in their current homes in the US. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and multi-group SEM were used to analyze the final sample: Hispanics (n = 322) and Whites (n = 328). The proposed model explained 65% of the variance in the life satisfaction of Hispanics and 68% of that in the life satisfaction of Whites. The results indicated that all satisfaction constructs were significantly related to the life satisfaction of Whites. In contrast, no significant association of residential satisfaction with the life satisfaction of Hispanics was observed. Further analyses reported statistical differences in the effect sizes of each construct affecting life satisfaction. This study provides valuable insights into the relative importance of residential satisfaction in shaping life satisfaction across two ethnic groups with a comprehensive theoretical framework. Additional empirical and theoretical implications are discussed.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

There is no funding to report for this submission. This study obtained IRB approval from Texas State University (EXP2015W416622M).