Mealtime Interactions and Life Satisfaction Among Older Adults in Shanghai.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the association between older adults' mealtime interactions at senior centers in Shanghai and their life satisfaction. Competing hypotheses, derived from socioemotional selectivity theory and activity theory, were tested.


METHODS
Data were obtained from the 2011 Shanghai senior center service utilization survey ( N = 320). Relationships between respondents' mealtime interactions and life satisfaction were tested using multilevel regression modeling.


RESULTS
After adjusting for demographics, interactions with tablemates (companionship, self-disclosure, and instrumental support) were positively associated with respondents' life satisfaction. These associations varied by senior centers. However, the number of tablemates was not significantly associated with respondents' life satisfaction.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings support the activity-theory-based hypothesis that mealtime interactions are related to older adults' life satisfaction independent of the number of tablemates. This study illuminates the value of social interactions in the context of community dining programs for the rapidly increasing older population in urban China.
1 Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Minzhi
M
Ye
2 Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Lin
L
Chen
1 Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Eva
E
Kahana
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population
community social support; life satisfaction; mealtime interactions; senior center