Objective:

The objective of this study was to analyze factors associated to vital satisfaction in the elderly from Argentina in 2012.

Materials and methods:

Data from National Survey of Quality of Life in the Elderly (ENCaVIAM for its acronym in Spanish) was used. The vital satisfaction and its association with the sociodemographic characteristics, health conditions, networks and use of free time, was analyzed according to gender. Multivariate analysis using logistic regression was carried out.

Results:

The variables related to greater life satisfaction in men and women were: older age, lower educational level, working as a volunteer/ or in a community organization, participating in trips and/or tourist trips, meeting with friends, and providing help to others. The variables related to lower life satisfaction were: not living together as a couple, presenting visual and/or auditory impairment, negative self-perception of health, and diagnosis of depression among others. Additionally, a greater life satisfaction was observed in women if they were retired or pensioned, and in men if they were regularly practicing any physical activity. Lower life satisfaction was observed in women if they were dependent and in men, if they had a negative self-perception of memory.

Conclusions:

These results are important to implement or improve policies aimed to influence the subjective quality of life of the elderly in Argentina and expand the body of knowledge around the factors that affect life satisfaction.

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