Life and health satisfaction in the adult population of Iran.
OBJECTIVE
Increasing interest has emerged in the use of subjective well-being as a development indicator and for the evaluation of public policies. The aim of this study was to assess life and health satisfaction and their determinants in the adult population of Iran.


METHODS
We conducted a survey of a sample of 3,150 adults at least 18 years of age in Tehran, the capital of Iran. The subjects were selected using a stratified random sampling method, and they were interviewed face-to-face at their usual residence by trained interviewers. Life satisfaction was used as a measure of subjective well-being. We used ordinary least square regression models to assess the associations of life and health satisfaction with socio-demographic variables.


RESULTS
On a 0-10 scale, the mean (standard deviation) scores for life and health satisfaction were 6.93 (2.54) and 7.18 (1.97), respectively. The average score for life satisfaction in females was 0.52 points higher than in males. A U-shaped relationship was found between age and life satisfaction, with respondents 35 to 44 years of age having the lowest average level of life satisfaction. Satisfaction with life and health among divorced respondents was significantly lower than among never-married and married participants. The scores for life satisfaction in respondents who rated their health status as poor were 3.83 points lower than in those who rated their health status as excellent.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of the population of Tehran was satisfied with their life and health. Self-rated health status had the greatest impact on life satisfaction.
Department of Health Management and Economics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Rajabali
R
Daroudi
Department of Health Management and Economics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Arash
A
Rashidian
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Hojjat
H
Zeraati
National Institute for Health Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Alireza
A
Oliyaeemanesh
Department of Health Management and Economics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Ali
A
Akbari Sari
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
Health; Iran; Life; Personal satisfaction; Subjective well-being