Do elderly people living in rural areas enjoy better mental well-being? Evidence from Catalonia, Spain

Manuela Alcañiz (), Carme Riera-Prunera and Aïda Solé-Auró ()
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Manuela Alcañiz: Riskcenter, Department of Econometrics, Statistics and Applied Economy Universitat de Barcelona. Av. Diagonal 690, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
Aïda Solé-Auró: DemoSoc Research Group, Department of Political and Social Sciences Universitat Pompeu Fabra. C/ Ramon Trias Fargas, 25-27, 08005, Barcelona, Spain

No 201913, IREA Working Papers from University of Barcelona, Research Institute of Applied Economics

Abstract: Despite its relevance, the effect of rurality/territory on the emotional well-being of the elderly population has not been analyzed in depth. This work examines the influence of fixed and modifiable risk factors on emotional well-being at older ages with a special attention on the level of rurality in the environment. A population-based sample of 2,621 individuals aged 65-plus from Catalonia (Spain) is used. Cross-sectional data from 2015 to 2017 were provided by an official face-to-face survey. Based on a logistic regression, our results indicate that residing in a densely populated urban area reduces mental well-being in the elderly. More factors were found to be related to emotional well-being, especially those referred to functional limitations, social support and health burden. Health officials have to ensure that people enjoy a good quality of life during their last years of life.

Keywords: Mental well-being; Rurality; Longevity; Spain. JEL classification:I31. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 24 pages
Date: 2019-07, Revised 2019-07
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-age and nep-hea
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ira:wpaper:201913

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