Determinants of psychosocial factors among the oldest old - Evidence from the representative "Survey on quality of life and subjective well-being of the very old in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW80+)"

OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to examine socioeconomic and health-related variables associated with psychosocial factors among the oldest old.

METHODS: Cross-sectional data were used from the representative "Survey on quality of life and subjective well-being of the very old in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW80+)" consisting of individuals aged 80 years and over (n = 952, average age was 86 years) living in North Rhine-Westphalia (most populous state of Germany). Established tools were used to quantify loneliness, life satisfaction and depressive symptoms. Socioeconomic and health-related determinants were included in regression analysis.

RESULTS: Multiple linear regressions showed that higher life satisfaction was associated with a greater network size, lower functional impairment and better self-rated health. Moreover, higher loneliness was associated with being unmarried, a smaller network size, worse self-rated health and higher functional impairment. Additionally, more depressive symptoms were associated with lower age (i.e., 80-84 years compared to 90 years and over), asset poverty, the presence of multimorbidity, higher functional impairment and worse self-rated health.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study identified various socioeconomic and health-related factors associated with worse psychosocial factors among the oldest old. This knowledge may assist in targeting oldest old individuals at risk for worse psychosocial factors.