Living arrangement and life satisfaction in older Malaysians: the mediating role of social support function.
BACKGROUND
This cross-sectional and correlational survey examines the association between different types of living arrangements and life satisfaction in older Malaysians, while taking into account the mediating effects of social support function.


RESULTS
A total of 1880 of older adults were selected by multistage stratified sampling. Life satisfaction and social support were measured with the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale and Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey. The result shows living with children as the commonest type of living arrangement for older adults in peninsular Malaysia. Compared to living alone, living only with a spouse especially and then co-residency with children were both associated with better life satisfaction (p<.01) and social support function (p<.01). The mediating effect of social support function enhanced the relation between living arrangements and life satisfaction.


CONCLUSIONS
This study revealed that types of living arrangement directly, and indirectly through social support function, play an important role in predicting life satisfaction for older adults in Malaysia. This study makes remarkable contributions to the Convoy model in older Malaysians.
Department of Medical Surgical, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. h_kooshiar@yahoo.com
Hadi
H
Kooshiar
Nurizan
N
Yahaya
Tengku Aizan
TA
Hamid
Asnarulkhadi
A
Abu Samah
Vajiheh
V
Sedaghat Jou
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors