Another Paradox? the Life Satisfaction of Older Hispanic Immigrants in the United States

Purpose:  Hispanics are the fastest growing segment of the older adult population in the United States. A significant proportion of older Hispanic immigrants in the United States share a history of lifelong deprivation that will shape their aging experiences, and that urges identifying elements associated with their successful aging. Life satisfaction is an element of successful aging, distinct from depressive symptoms, and from health-related quality of life. However, despite the rapid increase of the older Hispanic population in the United States and the importance of life satisfaction as an element of successful aging, we know very little about the life satisfaction of older Hispanic immigrants, or about the determinants of such satisfaction. Using a nationally-representative sample of adults aged 65 and older, and from the perspective of the stratification theory of wellbeing, the main purpose of this paper is to: (1) investigate disparities in the life satisfaction of older Hispanic immigrants, relative to native-born Hispanic and non-Hispanic White counterparts, and (2) to identify determinants of such potential disparities.

Methods:We created a pooled sample of respondents (n=9,919) who completed the Leave-Behind-Questionnaire as part of the 2006-2012 Health and Retirement Study assessments. Participants completed standardized measures of life satisfaction and of established correlates: socio-economic status, functional limitations, social integration, social support and social networks, and perceived discrimination. OLS regression models and predicted probabilities were calculated to compare the life satisfaction of older Hispanic immigrants, relative to native-born Hispanics and to non-Hispanic Whites, and the relative contribution of material and social resources on the life satisfaction of different groups.

Results:Older Hispanic immigrants in the United States reported greater life satisfaction than native-born Hispanic and non-Hispanic White counterparts. In support of the social stratification theory of wellbeing, older adults with more material and social resources reported greater life satisfaction across groups. However, some resources had a different effect across ethnic/racial groups. More education was associated with higher life satisfaction only among non-Hispanic White older adults. In contrast, while co-residing with children was associated with greater life satisfaction among older Hispanics it was associated with decreased life satisfaction among non-Hispanic Whites elders

Discussion: Older Hispanic immigrants seemed to be more satisfied with their lives than their native-born Hispanic and non-Hispanic White counterparts. These differences in life satisfaction were primarily driven by older Hispanics co-residing with their children. Programs and policies designed to foster the life satisfaction and successful aging of older adults should consider that the determinants of life satisfaction in later life may differ among racial/ethnic groups of older adults.