title: [Happiness in the elderly: an epidemiological approach in the ISA-Camp 2008 study].
abstract: The objective was to identify factors associated with happiness in the elderly. A cross-sectional, population-based study was conducted in 1,431 elderly under the ISA-Camp 2008 project. The survey used a two-stage probabilistic cluster sample. Prevalence of happiness was measured over time according to socio-demographics variables, health behaviors, and health conditions. High prevalence of happiness was associated with: marital status (married), active working, activity and insufficient leisure-time activity, occasional consumption of alcoholic beverages, daily consumption of fruit, vegetables, and leafy vegetables, normal body mass index, and sleeping less than 10 hours/night and sleeping well. The highest prevalence of long-term happiness was observed among elderly with no reported illness, with better self-rated health, and with less disability. Happiness was strongly related to health indicators, suggesting the adequacy of complementary use of this indicator for evaluating health promotion programs in the elderly.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brasil. margareth.guimaraes@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Margareth Guimarães
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Marilisa Berti de Azevedo
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Barros
authors.forename: Maria Cecilia Goi Porto
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Alves
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006240:Happiness; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors