Inverstigating life satisfaction of elderly in the context of disengagement and activity theories: The case of Bingöl

Theoretical studies related to the last period of life extend to 1950's. Many theoretical perspectives has appeared in order to explain how aging process could be more successful, in which conditions elderly people become more satisfied and become happier. The most outstanding of these studies are disengagement and activity theories. Although disengagement theory has been falsified until today, there are studies that investigate this theory. However, activity theory still maintains its accuracy considering studies in this field. Disengagement theory suggests that the more elderly people disengages from society and social relations the more likely they become satisfied while on the contrary activity theory argues that elderly people become more satisfied at the rate of engaging in the social life and being active. In this study, it was aimed to understand how life satisfaction is affected by activity levels of elderly people in the context of disengagement and activity theories in Bingöl province. In the study, a questionnaire was used. The questionnaire consisted of questions related to demographic information and were to determine activity level of elderly people in order to investigate hypothesis about life satisfaction and activity level suggested by these theories. Questions were prepared as including formal, informal and solitary activities. The Satisfaction With Life Scale developed by Diener et al. (1985) was used in order to make analysis of life satisfaction and activity levels. The scale was adapted to Turkish language by Durak et al. (2010). Data was collected by researcher and pollsters residing in Bingöl through outreaching to elderly people by means of friends and acquaintances. Data was collected from 451 elderly people. Datas collected were analysed by SPSS package program. In the analysis, t-test and oneway analysis of variance were used. Post Hoc Tukey test was used for multiple comparisons. Internal consistency of the scale was found to be .82. Normality analysis were conducted and it was found that datas collected were distributed as normal for The Satisfaction With Life Scale (Skewness: -.324, Kurtosis: -.879). According to results obtained from the study; it was found that marital status, living with spouse and grandchildren and income state of elderly people have meaningful effect on life satisfaction of elderly people (p<0.05). Relationship of elderlies with their spouses and grandchildren which are included in informal activities were found to have meaningful effect on life satisfaction (p<0.05). However, it was seen that relationship with children has no meaningful effect on life satisfaction (p>0.05). It was found that association membership and participation in voluntary institutions activies which are in the context of formal activities have meaningful effect on life satisfaction (p<0.05). Within solitary activities, going to city center and shopping which are more social activities compared to other solitary activities were found to have meaningful effect on life satisfaction (p<0.05). Religious activities were not found to have effect on life satisfaction (p>0.05). Considering results obtained from the study, activity theory is partly confirmed while disengagement theory is not confirmed anyway. It can be said that especially informal activities have meaningful effect on life satisfaction of elderly people in areas like Bingöl which has urbanized moderately. Therefore, it can be argued that, policies that includes informal activities for elderly people may increase life satisfaction of people in the last period of their life.