Happiness and Its Determinants among Community-Dwelling Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Age-and Sex-Specific Analysis in the Gan-Dau Healthy Longevity Plan

Background/Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between happiness and aging, focusing on sex-specific differences and potential determinants. Methods: Data obtained from The Gan-Dau Healthy Longevity Plan survey were used. The Chinese Happiness Inventory (CHI) was used to assess happiness. Multivariate generalized linear models were employed to identify determinants associated with happiness in the sex-specific groups. Results: Of the 756 participants, 238 were men and 518 were women. Happiness levels measured by CHI varied across age groups. Men's mean CHI scores increased with age (50-64 y/o: 15.2, 65-74 y/o: 16.7, 75+ y/ o: 17.3), while women's scores exhibited a slight decline (50-64 y/o: 15.8, 65-74 y/o: 16.2, 75+ y/o: 14.7). Notably, women aged 75+ reported the lowest scores in the achievement at work and peace of mind subdomains. Determinants of happiness differed by sex. Among men, being divorced (β:-6.105, p = 0.0159) or widowed (β:-4.824, p = 0.0415), having 2+ chronic conditions (β:-2.559, p = 0.0186), and having higher levels of depression (level 1, β:-3.164, p = 0.0011; level 2+, β:-5.862, p < 0.0001) were associated with lower level of happiness. In women, only depression had a significant impact on happiness (level 1, β:-4.334, p < 0.0001; level 2+, β:-7.037, p < 0.0001). Conclusion: This study revealed sex-specific trends in the relationship between aging and happiness, highlighting the need for further longitudinal or intervention studies to confirm the role of happiness in healthy aging among men and women.