Trajectories and covariates of life satisfaction among older adults in Taiwan

The goals of this study were to identify different life satisfaction trajectory groups among the Taiwanese elderly and to explore the relationships between life satisfaction and time-varying physical, mental, social, health, and economic variables. The data used herein were from five waves of a longitudinal study conducted from 1993 to 2007. Those who completed at least three waves were included in the analysis, for a total of 2584 participants. A group-based trajectory model was used to analyze the data. Time-constant variables and time-varying covariates were used as the moderators of changes in life satisfaction trajectories. Four life satisfaction trajectories were identified: low (21.8%), middle (39.7%), increasing (25.9%), and high-declining (12.5%). Having more education and better physical and psychological health, social support, and economic satisfaction were predictors of a higher life satisfaction trajectory, and maintaining good physical and emotional health, having a spouse, and having better economic satisfaction were associated with an increase in life satisfaction over time.