Subjective Well-Being and Cultural Engagement Patterns Amongst Older People: Examining Gender Differences

Maria Carella, University of Bari Aldo Moro
Roberta Misuraca , University of Bari Aldo Moro

The present study examines the association between patterns of cultural engagement and subjective well-being amongst older adults, with a focus on gender differences. Using data from the Multipurpose Survey on Households: Aspects of Daily Life (Italian National Institute of Statistics, 2018), through Latent Class Analysis we identified different profiles of cultural consumers based on their patterns of attendance and engagement in various cultural activities. The results of probit estimations show that marginal increases in the consumption of cultural goods had a beneficial effect on the SWB. Even occasional and moderately diverse cultural consumption was significantly and positively associated with self-reported satisfaction across different domains of SWB. Moreover, allocating more time to diverse cultural experiences was associated with higher levels of subjective well-being, even in the presence of gender differences. Women who engaged in diverse cultural experiences with increased intensity and who participated in highbrow activities exhibited higher levels of leisure and friendship satisfaction than men. This recognized the crucial role of gender-related tastes in shaping cultural participation, which, in turn, had distinct effects on SWB amongst both men and women. The findings highlight the importance of cultural participation in enhancing older adults’ well-being; it is hoped that they will be used to inform the development of targeted welfare policies.

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 Presented in Session 12. Well-being, Living Arrangements and Satisfaction among Older People