Elderly individuals in multigenerational households: Family composition, satisfaction with life and social involvement

OLIVEIRA, Maria Clara Gonçalves Monteiro de; SALMAZO-SILVA, Henrique; GOMES, Lucy; MORAES, Clayton Franco; ALVES, Vicente Paulo

doi:10.1590/1982-0275202037e180081

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Psychology of Development • Estud. psicol. 37 • 2020 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-0275202037e180081 copy

Elderly individuals in multigenerational households: Family composition, satisfaction with life and social involvement

Longevos em domicílios multigeracionais: condições sociodemográficas, humor, funcionalidade, envolvimento social e satisfação com a vida

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the link between multi-generational household arrangements (uni-, bi- or tri-generational) and sociodemographic variables, functional performance, mood, social support and life satisfaction in cognitively healthy elderly individuals. This is a cross-sectional, descriptive and quantitative study. A total of 107 elderly individuals from the Federal District were evaluated using the Geriatric Depression Scale, the Mini Exame do Estado Mental (Mini-Mental State Examination), the Scales of Basic, Instrumental and Advanced Activities of Daily Living, the Perceived Social Support, and the Life Satisfaction Scale. Bivariate statistical analysis indicated that tri-generational arrangements were associated with being female, being a widowed individual and having more children; and uni- or bi-generational arrangements were associated with a greater life satisfaction in comparison to people of the same age, a bigger participation in cultural activities and driving an automobile. These findings indicate that, for elderly individuals, living arrangements are associated with family composition, life satisfaction and social engagement.

Keywords
Depression; Elderly; Housing; Social participation; Social support

Variables		Alone = 22		With children or spouse = 50		With children, spouse and grandchildren = 35		p value
Variables		M	SD	M	SD	M	SD	p value
Age		83.09	(± 3.49)	82.62	(± 3.31)	85.77	(± 5.19)	0.756
Years of education		5.14	(± 4.81)	5.42	(± 6.37)	3.29	(± 3.51)	0.322
Number of children		4.68	(± 3.68)	4.88	(± 3.55)	6.81	(±3.13)	0.004
GDS		3.44	(± 2.42)	3.78	(± 2.48)	4.74	(± 3.57)	0.533
MMSE		24.64	(± 3.76)	24.62	(± 3.35)	23.89	(± 3.21)	0.548
		⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻ (%) ⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻
Sex								0.015
	Female	64.00		46.00		77.00
Perceived income sufficiency		45.50		50.00		51.40		0.905
	Marital status							0.001
	Married	9.10		61.20		25.70
	Unmarried	27.30		6.10		0
	Divorced	9.10		4.10		11.40
	Widowed individuals	54.50		28.60		62.90
BADL (% with difficulties)		0.41		0.48		0.45		0.895
IADL (% with difficulties)		0.25		0.51		0.46		0.283

Variables	Alone = 22		With children or spouse = 50		With children, spouse and grandchildren = 35		p value
Variables	M	SD	M	SD	M	SD	p value
Life satisfaction today.	2.69	(± 0.48)	2.61	(± 0.55)	2.46	(± 0.66)	0.525
Life satisfaction compared to other people of the same age.	2.56	(± 0.63)	2.87	(± 0.34)	2.54	(± 0.59)	0.025
Satisfaction with your own memory.	2.75	(± 0.45)	2.37	(± 0.75)	2.50	(± 0.66)	0.215
Satisfaction with the ability to perform everyday tasks.	2.69	(± 0.48)	2.53	(± 0.65)	2.38	(± 0.82)	0.562
Satisfaction with family and friend relations.	2.56	(± 0.81)	2.86	(± 0. 35)	2.58	(± 0.72)	0.228
Satisfaction with the environment in which you live.	2.50	(± 0.63)	2.45	(± 0.76)	2.37	(± 0.82)	0.950
Satisfaction with your access to health services.	2.44	(± 0.81)	2.39	(± 0.79)	2.46	(± 0.78)	0.467
Satisfaction with the means of transportation available to you.	2.25	(± 0.86)	2.38	(± 0.86)	2.57	(± 0.73)	0.756
Satisfaction with life in general (total sum).	18.43	(± 4.61)	19.30	(± 3.12)	19.43	(± 3.69)	0.869

Variables	Alone =22		With children or spouse =50		With children, spouse and grandchildren =35		p value
Variables	M	SD	M	SD	M	SD	p value
You have someone to talk to when you feel alone.	3.13	(± 0.96)	3.58	(± 0.76)	3.13	(± 1.03)	0.089
You meet and talk with friends and family regularly.	3.37	(± 0.89)	3.55	(± 0.80)	3.62	(± 0.65)	0.699
You have someone who can help you with your chores if you are sick.	3.25	(± 1.34)	3.45	(± 1.06)	3.65	(± 0.71)	0.808
You can count on someone when you need a suggestion on how to deal with a problem.	3.33	(± 0.98)	3.55	(± 0.95)	3.58	(± 0.88)	0.423
You have someone whose opinion you fully trust.	3.67	(± 0.82)	3.71	(± 0.77)	3.79	(± 0.72)	0.613

Variables	Alone = 22	With children or spouse = 50	With children, spouse and grandchildren = 35	p value
Variables	⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻ % ⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻			p value
You visit other people’s homes	77	78	69	0.591
You receive guests	91	94	86	0.454
You go to the church or some other kind of religious temple	82	76	63	0.247
You attend social meetings	50	69	57	0.251
You participate in cultural events (exhibitions, films, cinema)	14	35	14	0.045
You drive a car	18	31	3	0.006
You make short, 1-day trips	68	65	66	0.971
You make long trips	68	65	66	0.490
You do volunteer work	23	31	9	0.055
You do paid work activities	9	14	6	0.439
You participate in boards and councils	0	8	3	0.269
You go to University or take improvement courses	0	4	6	0.541
Coexistence centers and groups for elderly individuals	18	24	20	0.802

Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas Núcleo de Editoração SBI - Campus II, Av. John Boyd Dunlop, s/n. Prédio de Odontologia, 13060-900 Campinas - São Paulo Brasil, Tel./Fax: +55 19 3343-7223 - Campinas - SP - Brazil
E-mail: psychologicalstudies@puc-campinas.edu.br

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[1] Correspondence to: H. SALMAZO-SILVA. E-mail: henriquesalmazo@yahoo.com.br.