Multidimensional Assessment of Subjective Well-being and Risk of Dementia: Findings from the UK Biobank Study

Xianghe Zhu (), Martina Luchetti, Damaris Aschwanden, Amanda A. Sesker, Yannick Stephan, Angelina R. Sutin and Antonio Terracciano
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Xianghe Zhu: Florida State University
Martina Luchetti: Florida State University
Damaris Aschwanden: Florida State University
Amanda A. Sesker: Florida State University
Yannick Stephan: University of Montpellier
Angelina R. Sutin: Florida State University
Antonio Terracciano: Florida State University

Journal of Happiness Studies, 2023, vol. 24, issue 2, No 10, 629-650

Abstract: Abstract This study aimed to examine the associations between subjective well-being (SWB) and risk of all-cause dementia, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and vascular dementia (VD). We adopted a multidimensional approach to SWB that included the level and breadth of SWB, the latter indicating the extent to which SWB spreads across life domains. Participants (N = 171,197; mean age = 56.78; SD = 8.16 years) were part of the UK Biobank and were followed up to 8.78 years. Domain-general and domain-specific SWB were measured by single items, and the breadth of SWB was indexed with a cumulative score of satisfaction across domains. Dementia incidence was ascertained through hospital and death records. Cox regression was used to examine the association between SWB indicators and risk of all-cause dementia, AD, and VD. General happiness, health and family satisfaction, and satisfaction breadth (satisfaction in multiple domains) were associated with lower risk of all-cause dementia. The associations held after accounting for socio-demographics, health, behavioral, and economic covariates, and depressive symptoms. Health satisfaction and the breadth of satisfaction were also associated with lower risk of AD and VD, with a pattern of slightly stronger associations for VD compared to AD. Some life domains (e.g., health) may be more fruitfully targeted to promote well-being and help protect against dementia, but it is also important to enhance well-being across multiple domains to maximize the protective effects.

Keywords: Subjective well-being; Life domains; Dementia; Alzheimer’s disease; Vascular dementia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1007/s10902-022-00613-3

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