Reimagining Successful Aging Among Latinx Communities in the United States

Background and Purpose: The share of older Latinxs in the U.S. is projected to double in the next few decades. Older Latinxs are not only growing faster than other groups in America; they also live longer. However, they are not considered “successful agers” as they reach later life with more functional limitations and with fewer socioeconomic resources than any other group of America’s elderly. Traditional definitions of successful aging have not considered peoples’ perceptions of their own well-being, or happiness, as factors. Yet, older Latinxs in the U.S. report highest levels of subjective well-being and satisfaction with life than any other group of older adults. The purpose of this study was to empirically test the sources of life satisfaction, or happiness, of older Latinxs in the U.S.

Methods: Using daily data from the American Time Use Survey, we investigated if Latinx (n=516), aged 65 and older, derived more life satisfaction, or happiness, from daily life activities than comparable non-Latinxs (n=5,930). A series of multivariate logistic regression models tested whether older Latinxs: (1) spent more daily time in activities traditionally associated with higher levels of life satisfaction, (2) derived more happiness from such activities, and (3) derived more happiness and meaning from engaging others in daily activities, relative to comparable non-Latinxs.

Results: Findings suggest that older Latinxs spent less time than non-Latinxs in activities traditionally associated with higher levels of life satisfaction, such as volunteering. However, they derived more happiness and meaning than comparable non-Latinxs from ordinary activities such as cooking and religious participation. Older Latinx derived the most satisfaction from activities of daily life if friends and family were involved.

Conclusions and Implications: Traditional models of successful aging have not included factors that reflect the aging experiences of ethnoracially diverse older adults with few socio-economic resources. Encompassing definitions of successful aging should include subjective indicators of life satisfaction that reflect the aging experiences of different communities of older adults. Relatedly, interventions to increase successful aging and to engage diverse groups of older adults in productive aging activities, should include meaningful activities tailored to specific group of participants.