Factors Associated with Feelings of Happiness among the Elderly

Happiness is one of the most urgent natural and psychological demands of human beings and because of its major impact on the health and development of society، the human’ mind has always been busy about it. This study seeks to determine the factors associated with elderly happiness in Ilam city. It was a descriptive cross- sectional study with predictive- correlational design. The sample consisted of 370 elderlies of Ilam city who were recruited by systematic random sampling. Data was collected in 2014 by a three part questionnaire including (1) personal characteristics sheet (2) a researcher made questionnaire to measure aggression، adaptation strategies، social capital، religious orientation، relative deprivation and alienation variables (3) and Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (29 items version) and was analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficient، ANOVA and multiple regression using SPSS- PC (v. 18). The findings revealed that the respondents’ happiness was moderate (92 / 53). A significant direct correlation was found between social capital (r=0 / 457)، income (r=0 / 344)، and adaptation strategies (r=0 / 275) and happiness (p<0/005). There were also a significant indirect relationship between alienation (r=-0 / 484)، aggression (r= -0/399)، relative deprivation (r=-0 / 325)، and happiness (p<0 / 005). No significant relationship was found between religious orientation and happiness. Stepwise regression analysis showed that the variables of income، social capital and aggression have explained almost 49 percent (r 2 =0 / 49) of happiness variations (P < 0/00). Regarding the findings and considering the growing population of elderlies in this city it is suggested that appropriate approaches be applied to strengthening the positive factors and adjusting the negative factors related to the feelings of happiness in this population.