Happiness among the elderly in communities: a study in senior clubs of Chonburi Province, Thailand.
OBJECTIVE
To study the levels of happiness perception in the elderly in different regions, and determine the reasons affecting it.


METHODS
The Thai Happiness Indicators: THI-15; 2001 were used in this study of 306 participants (> or =60 years) in different regions: rural, suburban, and urban. The elderly were chosen by chance from those belonging to Thai senior clubs in opportunistic random.


RESULTS
The elderly perceived their happiness as good, fair, and poor, respectively, 12.4%, 37.9%, and 49.7%. There was a difference in happiness perception among the regions: poor happiness perception (64.5%, 61.2%, and 22.8% in rural, suburban, and urban areas, respectively) (P < 0.001). We also verified that there was a difference in poor happiness perception between males (57.9%) and females (42.2%) (P < 0.01). There were differences in the happiness perception among people with different levels of education (chi(2) (4, N = 306) = 14.15, P = 0.007). There was also a difference between happiness perceptions as related to occupation: the results showed elderly who were not working had a better score of happiness perception than the elderly who had to work.


CONCLUSIONS
Although we cannot generalize from the results the happiness of all Thai elderly, the present study found that formal education, geographical areas, and gender can influence happiness. Health-care providers should be concerned about and provide the proper intervention and/or activities in order to alleviate the mental health problems among the elderly in communities, especially the elderly who are identified with poor happiness.
Sumngern
Chommanard
C
Community Health Department, Institute of Biomedical Science of Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. chommanard@icbas.up.pt
Azeredo
Zaida
Z
Subgranon
Rarchaneeporn
R
Sungvorawongphana
Narirat
N
Matos
Eduarda
E
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006240:Happiness; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013785:Thailand