Author(s)

Zhiying Yan, Xiaorui Su and Jingjing Wu

Corresponding Author

Zhiying Yan

Abstract

A total of 245 rural elderly aged over 60 in Longling County, Yunnan Province were investigated by Life Satisfaction Index-A(LSIA), the Emotional and Social Loneliness Scale (ESLS) and self-compiled satisfaction level of the needs questionnaire to explore the relationship among satisfaction level of the elderly needs and life satisfaction of rural elderly, and to test the mediating role of loneliness. The results show that: (1) the satisfaction level of the needs of the elderly is positively correlated with life satisfaction. (2) Loneliness was a full mediator factor between the satisfaction level of the needs of economic income, life care, spiritual comfort and life satisfaction. The improvement of life satisfaction of the rural elderly can be achieved not only by meeting their needs, but also by reducing their loneliness.

Keywords

Rural elderly, Needs, Loneliness, Life satisfaction, Mediating effect