Health, Economic Satisfaction, Trust in Family Members and Subjective Well-being among Older Adults

This paper explores family and non-family factors contributing to subjective well- being (SWB) among population aged 60 and over in Thailand. Data come from the Survey of Older Population in 2011(n =20,517). Based on regression analyses, non-family factors are more important than family factors in explaining the variations in older adults’ SWB. Regarding the non-family domain, those who reported highest self-rated health and highest level of satisfaction with financial status had the highest level of SWB. Regarding family factors, family structure is not as important as trust that family members will take good care of them when ill. In addition, the findings reveal that, as opposed to living with at least one child, older adults living with spouses (with no children) reported highest SWB while those living in skip generation households reported the lowest SWB, controlling for family support, socioeconomic, health, and demographic factors.