Abstract

Life satisfaction is one of the key indicators of quality of life and an indicator of successful coping with various life challenges and losses in the ageing process. Therefore, in the context of the continuous increase in life expectancy and the proportion of older people in the population, it is becoming increasingly important to discover the key determinants of their life satisfaction, especially those which are subject to interventions. The aim of this study was to examine to what extent different groups of potential predictors (sociodemographic, health, functional, psychological, and social) contribute to the explanation of individual differences in life satisfaction among older people. The study was conducted on a convenience community dwelling sample of 790 older people aged between 65 and 98 years (M = 73.97 years, SD = 6.58) from different geographical regions in the Republic of Croatia, 460 of them being women (58.23%). The questionnaires which included instruments for examining key constructs were applied individually. The results of regression analyses showed that, among the examined potential predictors, perceived financial status, functional ability, mental health, optimism, resilience, and social support significantly contributed to the explanation of life satisfaction. In that context, mental health and perceived financial status proved to be the best predictors of life satisfaction among elderly respondents. Public policies, public health programmes and psychosocial interventions should focus on these and other factors that facilitate the adjustment of older people and contribute to their life satisfaction.