By examining the association between functional disability and life satisfaction among the elderly, this study addressed the long-standing gap in the literature. Previously, minimal literature has examined the association between functional disability and life satisfaction [47]–[49], and such studies from the Indian context are somewhat more limited [18]. Banjare et al. (2015) examined determinants associated with life satisfaction among the elderly in rural Odisha, and they did not exclusively examine the association between functional limitation and life satisfaction; rather, they included the functional limitation as a general predictor of life satisfaction [18]. Therefore, the current study fills the research gap to a great extent while examining the association between functional disability and life satisfaction among the elderly. The findings noted support for our hypothesis that those with ADL and IADL related functional disabilities would have Low Life Satisfaction (LLS). The unadjusted and adjusted model findings noted higher odds of LLS among elderly with ADL and IADL related functional limitations. These findings agree with previously available literature [18], [50]. Occurrence of functional limitations bound elderly to the home [51], cut their personal ties [52], and limit their physical activity [53], which could be associated with lower life satisfaction among them. Functional limitations reduce the ability to move and reduce participation in social activities and social contacts, leading to a decline in life satisfaction among the elderly.
The odds of LLS were lower among the oldest-old than the young-old elderly, which deviates from the findings of several previous studies [49], [54], [55]. This study specifically noted higher chances of low life satisfaction among young-old than oldest old. Generally, it is assumed that as age increases, the odds of low life satisfaction among the elderly would decrease due to the onset of several chronic conditions and change in living arrangement; however, the findings in this study are somewhat different. A study in the Chinese context corroborated the findings of this study and noted that older individuals had a higher level of life satisfaction than their younger counterparts [56]. The finding of lower odds of LLS among the oldest-old is compatible with a phenomenon known as the paradox of ageing [57], [58]. The paradox of ageing relates to the notion that older people tend to react less to adverse situations, ignore irrelevant negative stimuli better, and remember relatively more positive information than negative information [57], leading to higher life satisfaction. Also, older people are more likely to derive emotional satisfaction from prioritizing positive information processing [58], which could have also linked to higher life satisfaction among the oldest elderly. To add more, a study noted that older people tend to use less interpersonal comparisons than younger people, positively affecting their life satisfaction [59].
The odds of LLS were lower among female elderly than their male counterparts, implying that the satisfaction level was higher among female elderly than in male elderly. Previous studies reported mixed findings where certain studies noted higher life satisfaction among male elderly [60], whereas few other studies noted higher life satisfaction among female elderly [12], [61], [62]. Older women are more likely to seek healthcare in India [63], partially explaining their higher life satisfaction. Furthermore, women enjoy an advantage in adapting to old age complications over men [64], which could also explain the higher life satisfaction among older women than older men.
However, the odds of LLS were declining with the increase in the educational status of the elderly; this study noted higher odds of LLS for each class of educated elderly than non-educated elderly. In general, education is positively linked to life satisfaction in previous literature [9], [55], [65]. However, quite a few studies noted similar results as in this study [60], [66]. A possible mechanism that links education to job satisfaction and further to life satisfaction may partially explain the higher life satisfaction among educated elderly [67], [68]. It explains that those with higher education would find a job that fits better to their skills and abilities, leading to higher life satisfaction. However, this study noted an otherwise result where odds of LLS were higher among educated elderly. There could be a few plausible mechanisms for the same in this study. First, individuals with lower levels of education may be easily satisfied with their current simple living conditions in contrast to educated elderly still having some unsatisfied needs in their life [56]. Educated elderly might be working before getting retired, and after retirement, they might be feeling a sudden change in their environment and lifestyle, which may partially explain the status of life satisfaction among them. Moreover, pension status after retirement plays an important role in depression among the elderly, which may also partially explain the life satisfaction among the elderly [69]; however, this study did not examine pension status and its association with life satisfaction among the elderly.
Corroborating with several previous studies [70]–[72], this study also noted a higher odds of LLS among elderly living alone and lower odds of LLS among the elderly living with children. Living with children provides a sense of security and social support to the elderly and a sense of belongingness, which could be attributed to higher life satisfaction. Living with children provides social support that improves self-esteem, gives a purpose to live, and can rightly be attributed to higher life satisfaction. Family support has been positively linked to life satisfaction among the elderly [54]. Several research has presented evidence that financial support from children contributes to life satisfaction among the elderly [71], [73]. As expected, those who reported poor self-rated health and had high psychological distress had higher odds of LLS. This finding is in agreement with previously available literature in the Indian context [18], [74]–[78]. Elderly having poor psychological health are more prone to depression, which could further be linked to LLS [18]. Good health allows the elderly to maintain social contacts, resulting in a higher level of life satisfaction.
The elderly in rural areas had higher odds of LLS, implying a higher life satisfaction among the urban elderly. Previous studies also noted a higher life satisfaction among the urban elderly [78]. The elderly in urban areas have greater access to medical services, which could be linked to higher life satisfaction [72]. Moreover, urban elderly have a greater awareness of their age-related outcomes, which can further be linked to higher life satisfaction [79]. The modern facilities, better infrastructure, and higher pension allowance in urban areas probably contributed to the higher life satisfaction among the urban elderly [12].