To be happy and behave in a healthier way. A longitudinal study about gender differences in the older population

Abstract

Introduction

Subjective well-being plays a key role in health. The objectives of this study are to analyse the longitudinal associations between subjective well-being dimensions and healthy behaviours, and to examine gender differences.

Method

A representative sample of 1,190 Spanish non-institutionalised adults aged 50+ were interviewed over a 6-year follow-up period. The Cantril scale was used to measure evaluative well-being. The Day Reconstruction Method measured experienced well-being. The Global Physical Activity Questionnaire was used, whereas fruit and vegetables, tobacco and alcohol consumption, and sleep quality were self-reported. The Generalised Estimating Equation was calculated.

Results

Women show significantly worse subjective well-being than men longitudinally. Higher scores in life satisfaction and positive affect were significantly related to a higher level of physical activity and better-quality sleep for both women and men. Associations between a higher life satisfaction and an adequate intake of fruits and vegetables and being a non-smoker was only found in women (OR = 1.05; 95% IC = 1.00, 1.10 and OR = 1.16; 95% IC = 1.09, 1.23, respectively).

Conclusion

Subjective well-being levels and frequencies in healthy behaviours are different in women and men. Subjective well-being interventions should take into account these differences in the frequency of healthy-unhealthy behaviours.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under agreement number 223071 (COURAGE in Europe), by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation ACI-Promociona (ACI2009-1010), and by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III-FIS research grants [PS09/00295, PS09/01845, PI12/01490, PI13/00059, PI16/00218, and PI16/01073]. Projects PI12/01490, PI13/00059, PI16/00218, and PI16/01073 have been co-funded by the European Union European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) “A Way to Build Europe”. The work was also supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM). NMM is supported by the programme “Contratos predoctorales para Formación de Personal Investigador, FPI-UAM”, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain. EL’s work is supported by the Sara Borrell postdoctoral program (CD18/00099) of the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Spain) and co-funded by the European Union (ERDF/ESF, “Investing in your future”). BO’s work is supported by the PERIS program 2016–2020 “Ajuts per a la Incorporació de Científics i Tecnòlegs” (grant number SLT006/17/00066), with the support of the Health Department from the Generalitat de Catalunya.

Disclosure statement

No conflicts of interest declared.

Data availability statement

Data will be made available upon request made to the corresponding author.