Mental Well-Being and Associated Factors Among Older Adults in Uttaradit Province
Keywords:
Community Participation, Mental Well-Being, Older Adults, Social SupportAbstract
This descriptive research aims to 1) evaluate mental well-being levels and 2) investigate the correlations between personal and social factors and mental well-being levels among older individuals in Uttaradit Province. The sample was composed of 1,195 individuals aged 60 years and older, who were selected through multistage random sampling. We gathered data using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) in Thai and a personal information questionnaire. The data analysis utilized descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficient, Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, and point-biserial correlation coefficient.
The results indicated that the average total mental well-being score was 46.8 (SD = 7.9), signifying a moderate level of mental well-being, with interpersonal relationships and societal acceptability exhibiting the highest mean scores. Factors significantly correlated with mental well-being levels included age (r = -0.18, p = 0.002), education level (rs = 0.21, p = 0.008), income (r = 0.25, p < 0.001), marital status (p = 0.021), living arrangements (p = 0.013), community participation (r = 0.32, p < 0.001), and social support (r = 0.38, p < 0.001). These findings indicate that strategies to improve mental well-being should prioritize the fortification of social networks and community engagement, especially for socioeconomically vulnerable older individuals.
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