The life satisfaction, and relating factors, of elderly residents of a remote island in Saga Prefecture

The purpose of this investigation is to examine life satisfaction and relating factors of elderly residents of a remote island in Saga prefecture after entering long-term care insurance. １２０ residents of Island A aged ６５ or over consented to take part in the investigation. The investigation was conducted from June to December ２００５, and conducted in the form of an interview, using a semi-questionnaire instrument. Koyano’s Life Satisfaction Index-K（LSI-K ： ９ items, possible range ０-９） was adopted as a measure of life satisfaction. The median score of life satisfaction was ４．０ with an interquartile range from ３．０ to ６．０. Upon dividing the respondents into two groups based on their median score of life satisfaction, and examining the relating factors using a ▯２ test. Furthermore, examining the related factors to a high level life satisfaction using multivariate logistic regression analysis, a marked male, satisfaction with their income, and low level of loneliness. It is the reason for males’ high life satisfactions, as island A’s main industry is fishing, males work for a long time, and therefore tend to evaluate their health status higher than females do. Results showed that it is very important for the elderly to they have various sorts of incomes in order to have enough to live on. Good health status, independence in terms of ADL, having a job they can do, economic satisfaction, family and relations, contact with neighbors and the resulting lack of loneliness, and social support both physically and spiritually, are shown to increase life satisfaction among elderly people on Island A.