Abstract

GUTIERREZ, Melchor et al. Predicting life satisfaction in Angolan elderly: the moderating effect of gender. Psychosocial Intervention [online]. 2014, vol.23, n.1, pp.17-23. ISSN 2173-4712.  https://dx.doi.org/10.5093/in2014a2.

A considerable amount of research has been done to explain life satisfaction in the elderly, and there is growing empirical evidence on the best predictors of life satisfaction. When studying elderly's life satisfaction and its predictors, gender differences have been found in several studies, including significant interactions with widowhood, for example. In this context, the present study aims were: (1) to test for the gender invariance in a life satisfaction measure; (2) to predict life satisfaction using several variables related to the aging process; and (3) to test the potential moderator effects due to gender in this prediction. Participants were 1003 Angolan elderly. Several multi-group (men vs. women) MIMIC structural models were tested. First, results showed that there is gender invariance for the measurement of life satisfaction. Second, results found no moderation effects on key variables of the aging process. In other words, the estimated effects of psychosocial variables on life satisfaction remain the same for both genders. The discussion relates these results to the existing literature and posits the contributions of the study.

Keywords : Life satisfaction; African elderly; Gender differences.

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