Happiness and Associated Factors of Elderly People in the Rural Area of Pathum Thani Province, Thailand: A Cross-Sectional Study

Happiness is a significant factor affecting the quality of life of elderly people, especially in rural areas where environmental factors differ from urban areas. This cross-sectional research study aimed to examine happiness and factors associated with happiness in elderly people living in rural areas of Pathum Thani Province, Thailand. The sample consisted of 390 individuals aged 60 and above who resided in rural communities in Pathum Thani province, selected through a multi-stage random sampling method. Data were collected using structured interview forms. Happiness levels were assessed using the Thai Happiness Indicator-15 (THI-15). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression analysis. The results indicated that a majority of elderly individuals were lower happy than the general population (37.7%), followed by those who reported being equally happy (31.5%) and those who were higher than the general population (30.8%). Factors significantly associated with lower happiness among the elderly were female (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 1.73, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]=1.11-2.71, P-value = 0.015), monthly income of less than 10,000 baht (AOR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.10-2.84, P-value = 0.020), moderate co-morbidity (AOR = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.10-3.73, P-value = 0.047), having cognitive impairment (AOR = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.12-2.17, P-value = 0.016), and not participating in community activities (AOR = 1.89, 95% CI = 1.11-3.19, P-value = 0.018). These results suggest that health professionals should prioritize preventing cognitive impairment, promote community engagement through group activities, and educate older adults on self-care for managing health conditions.