Association between Support and Satisfaction with Life among Older Adults in Ekiti, Nigeria: Findings and Implications

Many developing countries like Nigeria lack policy for the care of the older adults and this creates major challenges for the elderly population. The traditional family institution and community support that used to be safety nest are being adversely affected by westernization. This development might have adverse effect on life satisfaction among the older adults. This hospital based cross-sectional study was designed to determine the association between support and life satisfaction among older adults. A total of 128 subjects participated in the study out of which 28.9% were satisfied with life. Expectation of support was mainly from the family, less from the community and very low from the government. The level of support received from all sources generally fell short of expectations. Marital status and source of livelihood were significantly associated with life satisfaction. There is inadequate social support from the government and support from family and community fell below expectations. Expectations of support were the most strongly correlated with life satisfaction. Support for older adults must be addressed in order to meet their expectations and improve their level of satisfaction with life.

Mindfulness Facets and Psychological Well-Being among Meditators:Serenity as a Mediating Process

Guided by the theoretical processes of mindfulness and psychological well-being,this study examined serenity as a mediator between mindfulness facets and psychological well-being,as indexed by depressive symptoms and life satisfaction.Participants were 133 mindfulness practitioners who took part in a 3-day transnational meditation event in Hong Kong.Upon informed consent,participants completed a self-report questionnaire.The findings from structural equation modeling showed that serenity mediated the relation between two facets of mindfulness,including describing and nonreacting to inner experience,and life satisfaction.Serenity also mediated the relation between the mindfulness facet of describing and depressive symptoms.Direct associations were indicated between two mindfulness facets,including observing and nonjudging of inner experience,and depressive symptoms.Taken together,the findings revealed mindfulness facets as major correlates of serenity and psychological outcomes among Chinese meditation practitioners.To foster psychological well-being,researchers,educators,and practitioners should pay attention to the role of serenity,describing,and nonreacting to inner experience in mental health.

Social, Clinical and Psychometric Factors Affecting Self-Rated Oral Health, Self-Rated Health and Wellbeing in Adults: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Background: Many studies examined and reported oral and general health inequalities in clinical health, SROH and SRH. Objectives: The study aims to explore the social influences, gradients and predictors of self-rated oral health (SROH) and self-rated health (SRH) and wellbeing in Greek adults. Methods: Cross-sectional study, of men and women, aged 65 years and over (N = 743) in Greece. Descriptive and statistical analyses were performed for dentate and edentulous participants. For the association between socioeconomic exposures and binary outcomes, logistic regression was performed to estimate Odds Ratios and 95% Confidence Intervals (OR, 95% CI);levels of association and Cramer’s V were applied to calculate associations and p-values. Results: The objective socioeconomic measures, such as household income, education level and last main occupation were significant predictors and determinants of both SROH and self-rated health (SRH). For Satisfaction with life (SWL), there was a diversity in the results analogous to the dental status of the participants. Household income and SSS were predictors of SWL in dentate participants. In the total sample Household income, occupation and SSS, were predictors of SWL, while in edentulous participants only occupation and SSS were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Subjective social status was statistically significant for SROH, SRH and SWL (p < 0.01). More men than women reported their SROH and SRH as good. Household income and SSS were predictors of SWL, in dentate participants, thus the better the income and the higher the relative social status, the higher feeling of SWL was recorded. Place of residence had significant associations only with SWL. Household income, education, occupation and SSS had significant levels of association with SROH and SRH in dentate participants (p < 0.05). Conclusion: There are socioeconomic gradient inequalities in SROH and SRH in Greek adults living in Attica area. Subjective social status is a predictor of SROH, SRH and SWL. The need to prioritize interventions to eliminate disparities and inequalities in oral and general health and wellbeing of elders is evident.